the fund works. even if it was, there is not enough money to make that happen. additionally, we at the department are insisting on a new foot policy requiring us to charge a hundred $20 to all members of our village, which is a hardship on more than half of our members. barring the removal of this policy, we hope to add all of those fees. >> supervisor cohen: next speaker please. >> hello. i am with -- i am here to ask you to please fund the budget of 14.8 million. it could be 15 million, but 200,000. he doesn't make a difference. compared to the 11 billion-dollar budget, appeared to you what you are all doing in funding the police department. we have so many people out there. they need to help. we cannot leave our family, our friends, our loved ones on the street.

we need to get some help. we need to get them back into society and back as fully funded citizens, in the united states. we need to get them off those streets and we need to get them some help fast. it is horrible leaving our family is like that. please help the homeless. i am actually begging for you all to help support us. 14.8 or 15 million-dollar budget. thank you very much. [applause] >> supervisor cohen: just as a reminder, folks, we have a long day at a lot of speakers ahead of us. let's streamline the up because -- applause. use your fingers or put your thumbs down. >> my name is kelly. i'm the human rights organizer with a coalition on homelessness. i'm here to urge you to fully fund the budget of 14.8 million. we have been seeing a huge increase in enforcement on our streets. we are seeing the sweeps with

dpw and sfp be, at even if you ask the front line workers. they know the very next day they will be doing the same thing on the next block, because people are not put into resources and there is nowhere to go. in fact,, there is a resolution going on, there is a sweep that they were hitting with the sweep and undermining the homeless department. the homeless department is working to get people into actual placements. we need to be putting these resources into actual resources and not to be just pushing people from block to block. that doesn't help. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. there is always one or two people who forget, no applause, ladies and gentlemen. no applause. >> hello. i'm when the coalition on homelessness. i just want to say that every issue that you here about today feels a ripple effect of poverty in the city. funding the organization, funding people who no real

solutions to real issues that affect all of us, and can actually provide resources to the homeless population, and homelessness effects everybody in really big ways, whether or not they are paying attention. please fund has budget fund real solutions that with people who have done the resource dose research and know who to help -- how to help. >> supervisor cohen: thank yo you. >> good morning. i am with the coalition on homelessness. i've been working in the bayview community for several weeks now, and if you didn't know, the bayview community has 40% of san francisco's homeless population but only six% of the services. there's only one shelter in the bayview community called providence, which was only meant to be a temporary shelter, which means that a majority of the elderly african-american homeless population sleeps overnight in the mother brown drop in centre on plastic chairs. all we are asking for his replacement shelter in the bayview. not an entirely new one, just a

replacement for services that need to be there in the first place. that is part of the $14.7 million budget ask. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: next speaker. >> good afternoon. i am a student intern with the coalition on homelessness. i am asking the city to fund the initiative, $14.9 million in total, in order to provide absolutely necessary relief to the homeless community in san francisco. $20.7 million is currently spent on criminalizing the homeless, including a proposed $3 million to provide police with taser weapons. we need to ask ourselves, are we throwing money -- throwing money at a police department that turns its weaponry on the most vulnerable communities, and whether it is making the city safer or if that money could be better spent housing folks. thank you and power to the people. >> supervisor cohen: next speaker.

>> hi. i'm a lifelong district nine a resident and current intern at the coalition of homelessness. i would ask you fund -- defined the tasers and certain salary attrition things and add it to our ask. we need it. especially for the 3300 homeless students in the system. it is shameful. we owe them a chance to get out of where they are. imagine, supervisors would you be where you are if you went to school every day at hungry and unaware of where you were asleep at night? i know i wouldn't be here. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> hi. i am with the coalition of homelessness. i'm concerned about the $3 million used to supply the police with tasers. i believe that tasers increase police fatalities, and i think san franciscans made their voice clear on tasers in prop h. i would prefer that money would be put to better use it to assist the homeless, such as the

right to council, which cost $2 million. if you supply tasers, i think you would collectively share the burden of the increase loss of life that will result. i hope you increase that ask. the budget should be used to help people, not tase people. we have the resources to end homelessness and all we want is the well. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> hello. i work at the coalition on homelessness. i was also born and raised in san francisco. i am also here in support of our budget proposal. you've heard from any other folks, the city spends less than three% of its budget on homelessness but spends over 20.6 million to criminalize homeless people, and hundreds of millions more on police. you're asking for a small 14.9 million increase for homelessness funding for housing subsidies, two will service shelters and mental health services, and many other things.

whether or not these programs and subsidies are founded, it is often a matter of life or death for people who are on housed. for thousands, this funding -- their lives or cut short break the subsidies that people receive are transformative in providing stability, a roof over someone's head and an improvement in mental and physical health. i urge you to fund our proposal and the budget justice coalition. thank you so much. >> supervisor cohen: next speaker. >> i'm a human rights organizer. i'm here to employ you to accept the budget ask for $14.9 billi $14.9 billion, million dollars. there is an 11 billion-dollar budget but we spend less than three% on any type of service. 21,000 people living in shelters you experience homelessness this year in san francisco but only at 1500 shelter beds. we are hoping to expand at least $3 million to give your officers tasers by you cut subsidies for

transition agencies to get into housing. this is shameful. i need you to do something courageous. take the money and put it into services for mental health. except our ask. tasers have been shown to increase officer involved fatalities. this is an ineffective strategy where it is tried and tested. we spent $20 million and we're hoping to spend 3 million more a year. please accept this ask. thank you so much. >> supervisor cohen: next speaker. >> good afternoon. i am in a community leadership program with the hospitality house. i realize we need sanctuary ci city. we are attracting more addicts

and mentally ill. drugs are not only conducive -- are not only addictive, but inducing mental illness as well along with it. i am asking for more funding for the mentally ill, programs here in the city. for more prevention so we can get money for early preventions for the mentally ill. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> hello. good afternoon. i'm here with services. i want to thank the mayor and the board for the funding you provided for youth and families

thus far. i'm here in support of our ask a $14.8 million to serve youth, family and adults. specifically $1 million for youth, for emergency housing assistance for youth. i want you to specifically keep in mind that 80% of youth experience and homelessness are unsheltered. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. >> good afternoon. i am with larkin street youth services. i am also a member of the budget justice coalition. you're asking for 300,000. 100,000 for each of our respective youth leadership bodies. i want to remind us all that one in five homeless people are transitional age youth and we do know that 50% of homeless people in san francisco became homeless under the age of 25. that is why it is especially important we invest in our young leaders. if we want real solutions, it is

critical to get their input from their lived experience to inform our policy and practice. this is why leadership bodies like the youth advisory board to work. they get marginalized and disconnected youth into productive work with their peers and community wide problem-solving. engaged youth are connected youth. leadership skills like life skills in organizing and collaborating end goal setting, we need this to happen for our young people to become the great civic leaders of our future. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: where your youth programs cut by d. thank you f.? >> we did -- none of us received it. >> we have not in the past. >> supervisor cohen: thank yo you. >> good afternoon supervisors. thank you for the opportunity to speak. i'm a member of api council. as you heard before, 40 pick -- 42% live in poverty. a third are seniors.

they serve over 45,000 seniors a year. we are requesting support for our programs and our adult date services program. it is a restaurant-based meals program. we have three participating now and request 100,000 to start a new program in district two. allstate services in district one provide care during the day for seniors and adults with physical and/or mental impairments the family or caregivers get a few hours of relief to work with other care obligations. we prevent premature institutionalization with our services and request a hundred 20,000 to implement double straps for our adult day services to make the program viable and more economical to serve more clients. thank you so much for the opportunity to speak and for your consideration. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. please hold your applause. next speaker. >> good morning.

my name is maria. i am a mother with three kids and a husband who is disabled. we are living with our mother's family because we cannot find housing and are in very low fixed income program that provides support in the filipino families speaking our language. it is a very important thing for the program. i was able to get support in finding a job. i needed help with clothing. so please support filipino and other immigrant families like these. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. >> hello supervisors. i am a district 11 resident and part of the market community network. today i would like to reiterate

a point that was made by david wu earlier. i would like to urge you to restore the funding to united families and youth organizing for home and neighbourhood action as part of the larger budget justice coalition and api council. thank you. >> thank you. next speaker. >> hello. i am born and raised in the tenderloin and i currently live and work in the south of market. we are here today representing the council in the budget justice coalition. i'm speaking to urge you to restore youth organizing home and neighbourhood action. the youth program, as part of the 100,000-dollar ask for youth organizing was formed in 2013. formed by district six youth you wanted to create positive change in their community. since then, they have provided a safe and brave space for youth to build leadership skills from public speaking, to building campaigns, to organizing

critical thinking. do not strip the services away. last year, the commission presented a budget priority to prioritize youth organizing. please listen to them on the budget justice coalition and reallocate that $100,000 towards youth organizing. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon. i am from the south of market community action network and i'm here to reiterate and restore the funding for united families and youth organizing for home and neighbourhood action. members of this program are already leaders in the community. they let young people have a stake in the community. they can create an advocate for positive change. supporting funding for youth leadership is very essential part of the neighbourhood in

which it is a plant that you can grow and we should continue growing to advocate for social justice for youth. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker, please. >> good afternoon supervisors. i am here as a resident and a family case manager. i specifically want to talk about how we have developed a youth program that is consistent and is powerfully involved with the community. they are a pro active movement. is one of the greatest things that i have seen since working with the company and working as a family case manager.

it is important and vital that we have these spaces for the youth to assure that there is a place for them, especially at the table where you guys are at, making decisions for our community. also, please do not strip away these important services. help build them. help make them -- help them be robust and consistent -- consistent and secure. >> good afternoon. i work with the food bank with home delivered groceries. i listen to the participants as they share with me about all their food insecurities. one participant who recently started receiving our services let me know, that before us, her refrigerator was empty. and they often worried about

their next meal might come from. and i'm proud to help with this program, and i thank you for your support currently and i ask for your continued support of 1.6 million so we can serve our current waitlist and grow the program by 25%. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> hi. i am a program community or -- community -- coordinator. thank you for your continued support of our delivered groceries program. because of your investment, we've been able to provide weekly groceries to 2,000 seniors and adults with disabilities and we see a growing need and desire for this program as evidenced by our waitlist. we are asking for 1.6 additional funding to serve the current waitlist and expand our program. i also wanted to share an excerpt from a letter we received from a participant which shows the impact that our program has on participants. it says we are very grateful to

the volunteers and everyone connected with the food bank. there help has made our lives immensely easier, providing a nutritious variety of food. in old age and with a sick husband, the food delivery helps us so much and saves us money and valuable time. i don't have to leave him alone at home to get food. many blessings to you that make this program possible. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon. i am a program director at the san francisco food bank. we wanted to thank you for your continued support and investment of the home delivered grocery program. as my colleagues have mentioned, we are asking for an additional 1.6 million next year to illuminate the waitlist and grow the additional households, primarily homebound seniors and adults with disabilities. in addition to the program as -- at the food bank, i wanted to

share our pantry network serves about 26,000 households in san francisco every single week. there are 211 farmers' market distributions in almost every neighbourhood in san francisco. every week, hundreds of staff welcome and support one another while providing foods that are highly nutritious, worth more -- it is worth noting more than 60% of the food offered in our pantry network is fresh seasonal food -- fruit and vegetables. despite what is considered a healthy economy, we have enrolled 3,000 new households this year and expanded to over 19 new pantries due to growing demand. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> hello, supervisors. i'm with acute foundation. your policy buckets. no household that winds on affordable housing lottery a gets to the top it up of an affordable housing waitlist or has a certificate of preference should be turned down for affordable housing because they

don't meet the minimum income requirement. your other policy buckets, no household should be evicted from their long-term rent-controlled housing because their spouse dies or because they lose a job. they will never get that housing back. we have a way of addressing that. thank you for the $1 million for families. we are here to support the $3 million ask primarily for seniors and disabled folks going to the mayor's office of housi housing, but we will also be able to help all cop holders. all people were displaced preferences, people who get to the top of the waitlist and also, importantly, the alice griffith and other housing rebuilds. i also want to point out one in seven with hiv are homeless in the city. imagine if every one in six persons were homeless and you would know what it feels like. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you gentlemen. thank you. [please standby for captioner switch]

>> -- and i just want to say, without this grassroots organization, i would be on the streets at this moment. i was desperate, and i came to

them, and they practically saved my life. i would be on the streets right now without their support. please -- they were formerly known as the aids housing alliance, but he know now that they expanded their services, are not only lgbtq communities but for all of san francisco: seniors, disabled, veterans, families, and youth. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. next speaker. oh . >> thank you. good afternoon, supervisors. jessica layman with senior and disability action. i have a couple things that i want to say. one is i want to urge you to grow the add-back pot. that we know it's just not enough to cover the community needs that you're hearing about

today. you're hearing a lot about the cuts to costs for the police department, and we urge you to make that happen. we really need to fund subsidies for seniors, people with disabilities, family, and youth. also we're happy that we now from the dignity fund, but this year, we're only adding $3 million. it is not enough for seniors and people with iblt did disab. we need more so they can work, we need to fund group vans for day centers, we need to fund support for seniors and others, and we need to fund activities for seniors and people with disabilities. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speakers. >> good afternoon, supervisors. i'm david seanz manager for the opera house. college students and high school students learn and gain

skills in stage lighting, sound production and stage management. with the skills gained, graduates get to be part of the bayview opera house staff. in addition they get to find work in other production companies and events. we currently have a fall and spring program, but we want to open our sessions all year, and it will require 75,000 but yet to keep this program owe -- budget to keep this program open in the bayview opera house. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> hello. i am staff at the bayview opera house. first of all i'd like to acknowledge that the task that you all have ahead of you, as far as listening to the voice of the people. along with that, i would invite you to budget the bayview opera house because it will increase the growth of creative

expression, job opportunity and political expression that is well needed for the community. due to insufficient institution, there's a lack of expression that results in violence and crime within the s.f. community. i'm a witness on how the bayview opera house creates a normalized plateau for the performance and expression that reaches the community in a passionate and positive and purely artistic light. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> hello, supervisors. my name is kit, and i grew up and currently live in san francisco. i'm one of the 107 mental health workers works at r. a.m. h. for 40 years, we've provided d. ph a variety of mental health services. high schools, child care centers, and community mental health services are across the

city. 90% of our clients are low-income including the homeless and low-income youth. we receive salaries and benefits well below our counterparts and other nonprofit mental health organizations and well below the salaries of city workers doing the same work. as a result many of us struggle to make ends meet. last year, we voted to unionize with the national union of health care workers, to allow us -- >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon, supervisors. my name is jennie worley. i'm the president of the city college faculty union, f.t. 2121. i'm here to speak about the free program at city college. in november 2016, something

terrible happened, but also something really good happened, the voters in san francisco passed proposition w by an overwhelming majority. prop w leveed a tax on real estate transfers over $5 million in order to fund a ground breaking new free city college program that promised to make city college free for all san franciscans. in its first year, the free city program has been wildly successful, more successful than any of us imagined, meaning that over 10,000 san francisco residents attended and enrolled in free city in order to get vocational training, associate degrees, professional development for career changes or to begin their four-year degrees. that fabulous success however has left city college with a $5 million debt. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. let me just ask you a question. what is the budget ask? >> $5 million increase make the

program permanent and cover the summer semester for city college. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon, supervisors. my name is bridget davila, and i'm president of the board of trustees of city college. as you probably know, city college has undergone an unfortunate number of problems in the last ten years, but we are now back on track, we are accredited, we are moving forward. this free city program, which the board of supervisors overwhelmingly supported, it's been incredible. we have so many students now that want to take classes, and so what we are asking is for the proper amount to be reimbursed for those classes, and also for summer, the summer program. i was just registering in a summer program myself, and a

lot of students were asking how come it's not available for summer. thank you for your time. >> thank you, trustee davi 4r54r5la. good to see you. [inaudible] >> -- to ensure that education is free, and to maintain the fight for the first tuition free program, remain permanent, including summers, and is ensured funding as a commitment to the needs of the people. the 60,000 students currently enrolled, 800,000 s.f. and those that have been displaced out of the city. we also want to envision what the fully funded program signifies. it's people not deciding between getting groceries or textbooks, between rent and tuition. a fully funded program is a step towards provide a sanctuary city and teeth, not

just mother of morality, but with safe, socially with economic backing and to serve each other. we might continue to fight for this program to be permanent now. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon, supervisors. my name is allen desouza, a library at city college. we get to see lots of people come through our doors, and one particular story i want to share is about a mother and daughter who i've had the opportunity to work with the last few semesters. the daughter has a learning disability that requires near constant supervision, and the free city program has allowed the mother and the daughter to return to school, and over the last few similemesters, i've s the daughter gain a more

socially integrated life for herself. this program has been excellent for ourselves, excellent for the city and what could be for the state. we move to make all three, all education and higher ed free in the next few years. thank you for supporting free city college and for being a beacon for the state. >> hello. my name is susan molton, and i was one of the students that was unable to get a college education except for free city. i'm a struggling restaurant owner, but i can't go to college because i can't afford it. i know that college is priceless. please continue to fund this free city program. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> hi. i'm an instructor at city college of san francisco.

i'm with a.f.c. 2121 and free city coalition. ccsf is an important driver of economic opportunity and empowerment, and as you've been hearing and as i'm sure you know, we have a hugely successful program with the free city program, committed to by our supervisors and our city and funded through prop w, we were really proud when we ran and worked on prop w to be saying that we were leaving money on the table to help with the incredible and important things that the people need in san francisco in addition to free city. however, free city is only getting about 10% of prop w funds at this point, and it's been under funded from its launch. what's become clear in the last couple of months is that in addition to growing and growing the program, we need to be looking at closing the gap because the college has been left holding the bag for about $4.77 million.

>> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon. my name is saira ontiveros, and i'm a peer supervisor. today, we ask the board of supervisors to budget $40 million -- [inaudible] >> -- and maintain their housing as well. employment services as cost effective investment, and just a reminder, the homeless people need only -- not only need food, housing, but they also need a job, and i am here to advocate for them, and hopefully, we get to get these homed again. thank you and have a nice day. >> hello, supervisors.

i'm with meals on wheels san francisco, and i wanted to use my minute just to say one, thank you for trying to change the process, thank you for the budget coalition and trying to see that the services are so interconnected. human services network for really seeing the commitment of the cost of doing business. i think it's making a business, and thank you for the enhancements that you've done so far. we've seen it in home delivered groceries, we've seen it in the mayor's budget, as well, and thank you for knowing that we all have to eat, and we're making a difference year after year after year, and i look forward to the next. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon, supervisors. my name is honey mahogany with the compton transgender cultural district. i ask you to find a way to fund the entire budget, but more specifically to ask you to consider the 1.2 million out of an $11 billion that is the trans ask. this is the most obstacles in accessing services, and including youth services,

services for undocumented individuals, antiviolence and services for formerly incarcerated women. i've heard that last year, trans services received a historic amount of funding through the budgeting process, and i want to thank for allies for making that happen, and i also want to call out that more than half of our need was unmet last year. i would challenge you to ensure that we help fully fund the work of trans orgs and help serve one of san francisco's most marginalized and under funded communities. the mayor's office of budget has left cultural districts in an untenable position. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. next speaker. >> dear board of supervisors, i am rishe, and i work with the t.g. justice project. a lot of our trans brothers and sisters face high rates of unemployment, poverty, and homelessness due to

discrimination. it is really important that we open doors and have equal access to employment, housing, mental health services, access to name changes and overall full support for our trans communities and continued budget will allow us to do that. i'm asking support for your community and budget justice coalition. >> supervisor cohen: okay. next speaker, please. >> good afternoon. my name is kyle neal, and i'm here on behalf of t.g.i. justice coalition. >> supervisor cohen: i'm sorry, what is that. >> transgender, gender variant, and intersex justice project, and historically, the city ad back process has been a space for some of our most marginally community members, such as transgender youth, homeless, children and joan no, sirs to

advocate for the much needed and life saving resources to support each other. this year, the $20 million ad back is being allocated over a two year period and will not cover enough of the community advocacy that our communities need. instead, much of the money in the city budget is being allocated towards the police, such as increasing the number of police by 250 and funding tasers. historically, these forces have criminalized and harmed our community rather than supported our well-being. i urge you the city to re-cal indicate resources away from policing and instead further commitment to investing in our community members and support -- >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> hi. my name is hannah and i'm here support today of the but just justice -- budget justice

project. it's an important opportunity for the city of san francisco to support its trans community. trans folks in the city and particular currently and formerly trans women of color face numerous barriers. this is why it is necessary that the board of supervisors vote to fund the requested $1.2 million to ensure that the many organizations in san francisco that work to support the trans and gender nonconforming community in the city are able to continue doing this much needed work. i also support the rest of the budget justice coalition's ask for funding and support the many justice communities in san francisco. thank you. >> good afternoon, supervisors. [inaudible] >> -- such as the beacon center and specialized services. many existing services are defunded including $180,000

sunset services for low-income families, and also most importantly $200,000 to serve high risk asian and pacific islander youth within school district to reach out to over 250 of them on school days on a daily basis. [inaudible] >> -- to 180 high risk students which mostly come from district 9, 10, and 11, and we hope to also request funding for the district council from district 7 and district 11, and we're also part of the a.p.i. council. thank you. >> good afternoon, supervisors. i'm dr. jorge wong, and for the past 4.5 decades, ramh has been providing mental health

services to individuals and their san francisco. [inaudible] >> -- in needed prevention support and treatment services in a linguistically culturally formed way. [inaudible] >> -- as part of the ongoing health care providers services. we are also part of the a.p.i. council. thank you. >> good afternoon, supervisors. thank you so much for hearing me. i'm with a.p.a. family support services, and my name is amor santiago. last year, we received funding, $150,000 to be able to expand our school base and community center mental health work. unfortunately it's expiring, and we are in need of -- well, we do not want to lose that important capacity. we offer a family resource center, we're in domestic violence work, we do workforce,

prevent child abuse, and what we're finding is that our families still lack access even though there are many organizations providing mental health services. the other part of what we do is we train interns, and they've become an important part of our infrastructure at ramhs. so i'm hoping that you will be able to support us. we are part of a.p.i. council aligned with budget justice, and also the family services network. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: and what is your ask. >> i'm sorry. just $150,000 to maintain our program. thank you. >> hello, supervisors. this is mark izu, and i'm brenda wong oke. since 1976, we have created

asian american art, and we thank the board of supervisors for many commendations over the years. in 1977, we incorporated the first voice and we create original cross culture pan asian performance works. we are members of the a.p.i. council, and our funding is expiring. we're asking for 77,000. first force is based in district 1, but we also work in japantown and chinatown. we have a cohort of artists who teach and perform, we have an annual home season, a quarterly artists series, but men ton artists, we do large scale community development projects. we've received money from grants for the arts. we service about 10,000 san franciscans a year. our budget is mal but our impact is strong because we move hearts and minds, by telling our stories, we contribute to the culture --

>> good afternoon. i'm with a.p.i. legal outreach. i'm here specifically to ask for the stop of a cut that's occurring this year with the help of supervisor fewer and the mayor's office, we were able to provide services to survivors of domestic violence and violence against women in the workforce development area and also in a separate area, those facing eviction, seniors and families in the south of market and tenderloin areas. again, those programs are being cut this year, and we ask you to restore that money at about 150,000 for both programs. on behalf of the a.p.i. council, and i'm probably the last speaker, please support the programs of this council. it is a working coalition that is providing services at a greater rate and less cost than the city itself could provide, and we do a lot more together than we do independently, which is why we hope you value the

services we provide to the underserved in our community. thank you. >> good afternoon, supervisors. thank you for this opportunity to speak in support of the spotlight on the arts internship program. my name is malia jenkins, and i'm 17 years old and will be attending university of san francisco in the fall, majoring in arts and sciences. i've always wanted to pursue graphic design, so art focus internship programs in san francisco are surprisingly small in number. at school, i felt over shadowed by this focus on development in stem careers and trug willed to find a program that educated in the arts like spotlight does. i gained experience in my field by working with clients in the organizations. but spotlight wasn't just about the internship, alongside the professional development workshops allows me to network and build further skills. without spotlight, i would have been completely unprepared to pursue college. i have found very few programs

that provide arts education for youth, particularly people of color and youth who are lgbt in the city. built changed my life, and i wish -- spotlight changed my life, and i only hope that other students will have the wonderful opportunities it -- >> supervisor cohen: next speaker, please. >> thank you, supervisors. we're here on behalf of la para trans latina. we're here in support for the $1.2 million increase towards the seven agencies that fund specific transgender services. we're asking for the 1.2 million because it's only -- it's only 0.0109% of the city budget, and these funds would really help us with the output of services we can give to some of the most marginalized folks, including folks that are looking for political asylum. thank you very much. >> good afternoon, supervisors.

my name is rachel, and i'm the housing program manager at homeless prenatal program. every day in my work, i hear stories of people in shelter that are experiencing homelessness that need affordable housing immediately and affordable rent in san francisco. i'm here today to advocate for the hspa budget proposal and for more subsidy that are similar to the shared subsidy program that strives to keep low-income families housed as well as families of color housed in san francisco. with the allotment of $900208 over the next two years, it will allow us to help 208 families and help them out of homelessness. >> hello, supervisors. i'm a resident in district six, and i'm a children and family social worker and speaking in support of the coalition on homelessness. in 2017, they found 7,409

homeless individuals in san francisco. 31% were chronically homeless and 71% lacked shelter, however it costs more not to address this. each chronically homeless person who isn't in supportive housing costs taxpayers $81,000 each year. if these individuals were in supportive housing it would only cost 20,000 perperson peryear. this proves it is more ethically and financially responsible to commit them to housing. there's a strong causal relationship between homelessness, drug use and traumatic childhood experiences. i would also like to advocate for more prechbstive measures, such as family and child services, foster and family support services. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> hi. my name is francis colins, and

i want to reiterate what the last speaker says. it costs more not to address the homelessness issue. it costs taxpayers 80,000 a year for every chronically homeless person in jail expenses and other band-aid solutions. it's ethically and physically more responsible to go towards supportive housing, which would only cost 20,000 a person. i remember the 80's, when ronald reagan refused to fund the mentally ill and turned them out on the street, and this issue is still with us. thanks. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. >> good afternoon, i'm karen fleshman, cofounder san franciscans for police accountability. i want to thank you for the two new police commissioners who are awesome. the board of supervisors convened a hearing on sfpd in

2016 when judge cordell spoke about 80 years of sfpd thwarting every reform attempt, and unfortunately i believe we are reliving that history. i urge all of you to withheld ensuring sfpd's budget and demand accountability. supervisor yee, you passed a resolution calling for a citizen commission to conduct a study of what sfpd needs to be, what size sfpd needs to be. this commission is urgently needed. there's a fundamental miss match between what our community needs and what sfpd does that results in police murder. we have high rates of homeless people, intoxicated people and mentally ill people. we all agree sfpd is the wrong interface. we need a team of mental health -- >> supervisor cohen: thank you. thank you, karen. next speaker. >> i'm jackie barshak with san

franciscans for police accountability. i want to talk about the taser budget, which is $3 million, and i'm asking the supervisors to revisit that budget based on several factors. the -- there are two open seats now on the police commission. let those seats be filled, and then bring the entire vote to be revoted on for appropriations for tasers. also, the sunshine task force voted last week that -- came to the conclusion that the brown act had been violated in the police commission's vote for tasers, so i would like to factor that in to your reconsideration of the taser vote. and lastly, the measure h, the police officer's association measure on the last ballot was

voted -- >> good afternoon. first of all, thank you, supervisors for listening to us. my name is alejandra, and i'm with hospitality house, and i'm here to ask you for the support of the hspa budget of $14.8 million to reduce the police budget, and increase money to protect our most vulnerable population, specifically the homeless and immigrants. please restore the 250 k for two years of the mental health service budget and provide the necessary support for our youth, homeless and family adults. furthermore i urge you to restore the 280 k for two years for workforce and employment services. this funding is crucial to get homeless folks jobs and back on their feet. work helps people become

self-sufficient, and it is more cost efficient to invest in self-sufficiency than tasers, so please stop the hypocrisy and make san francisco a city that is accessible for all, and not just the wealthy. we have a responsibility to help our homeless population. thank you for listening. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon, supervisors. my name is bij reyes. [inaudible] >> -- with social services. i can tell you without a doubt that i am most proud of my work with the bayview opera house. their a dream with the children's opera house -- [inaudible] >> -- a couple programs that

come to mind. in these times of turmoil and negativity it's important to be the cornerstone that connected all the different programs in the city. the city's funding will enable us to be the cultural point of bayview. thank you for your time. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> supervisors, tony robles, senior and disability action. seniors and people with disabilities are really hit hard in this city. there hasn't been an increase in the cost of living or cola in -- in social security in the last three years. our organization is senior and disability action. seniors and people with disabilities are in need of housing subsidies, and we'd like you to make this a priority and fund the $3 million for subsidies. we do support the hspa ask.

i know seniors who are personally paying their rent. the subsidy can allow them a cushion, which is a security in situations that are precarious with individuals who can barely afford food and other necessities. these subsidies will provide housing stab housing sta housing stablity, and one-third of the housing in san francisco are seniors. and we need to provide for that. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> my name is jessie johnson. we recognize that many of the people who live in the streets ago were just our neighbors, people who have been thrown out of their houses by landlords eager to make a profit off of the housing crisis. tonight, people in the tenderloin will sleep on the bare friends of their friend's s.r.o. rooms, they'll sleep in bathtubs, they'll sleep in closets. i've seen people in the

tonederloin lend their best shirts for a job interview, i've seen them lend their last cigarette. please give us back the 14.8 in budget cuts. fund something positive. fund employment services for homeless people, fund transgender services. forget tasers. tasers only mean heartache and death. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you very much. next speaker. >> good afternoon, supervisors. my name is tess davis. i'm here today to urge you to fully fund the hspa budget ask of $14.8 million, including $280,000 over two years to restore cuts to the employment services and another 240,000 for low threshold adult services. as a former case worker working with this population, i find the budget unacceptable. in a city that prides itself on being socially conscious, how

can we justify this? san francisco is having its largest housing shortage, a constantly growing number of individuals on the streets, and completely unacceptable and life threatening housing and shelter wait lists. it is a moral obligation. no more death on the streets. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> hello, supervisors. my name is moses thompson with hospitality house. san francisco's budget is $11 million, and less than 3% is spent on solutions to homelessness. we urge the board of supervisors to fully fund the hspa budget ask of 14.8 million. a budget is a moral document. restore and expand funding for mental health services for transitional aged youth, families, and low threshold services for homeless people in neighborhoods like the

tenderloin. help vulnerable san franciscans get the support they need, mental health services, save money, and save lives. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker, please. >> good afternoon, supervisors. my name is alan sampson minello. i'm the development director at hospital ill house, and i stand before you on my 23rd wedding anniversary on behalf of me and my wife with because we feel the issues are very important. i am urging you to please fully fund the hspa budget of 14.8 million. please restore the funding for mental health services for transitional families and in high need neighborhoods like the tenderloin that is 250,000 over the course of two years. also, i'm asking if you can please restore the cuts to

workforce and employment services for the vulnerable folks of our neighborhoods. that's 280,000 over two years. remember, budgets tell a story, and let -- let the story of our city resonate, that we still believe in our shared humanity. thank you. >> supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon, supervisors. my name's emily davis, and i'm reading this on behalf of an artist at the hospitality house, community program. in our country, we treat our cats and dogs better than we treat our people. you'll see strays getting shelter and medical attention, and other care. i live on market street, and every day i see people bundled in blankets with a smattering

of their approximapossessions. we can put a few more resources to getting people off the street is and getting people working again. we are people, not the homeless. thank you. >> good afternoon. i'm wendy click. i'm from hospitality house. i want to just ask for funding in restoring the mental health services. this is an assess to the program that i work for at hospitality house. each week when i see an individual come in for individual or group wellness groups, they come out lighter on their feet. those that are in our community receive the same case managers for various support, and with those case managers there's over 100 maintained housing once they're off the street. we have one community members who was homeless for three years, and he had a approach the bench staying in, but confidence his wellness and community managers that have supported him, he has may i approa approach -- maintained housing for a year. so i'm asking youo