found some brilliance in that. so it is a very difficult day for me from a personal perspective. i didn't have the relationship with my father that i did with harvey. i didn't have the relationship in my life with anyone. when i told my mother that i felt different, she said you'll outgrow that. harvey said that's brilliant. and for a 12-year-old in a homophobe environment on long island, to be asked what happened today that was different that made you feel different from everyone else, i said i don't want to talk about it. he said that's amazing. think about the power that that gives you, yourself r your difference, the fact that you see things difference. he wrote in a book that he gave me, you and your districtness is the medicine that will heal the work, even though the world

doesn't recognize that. so i lost my touch stone, and i lost the color in my life. i was 17 years old and in college. this was the man who brought me, introduced me to the color of life in manhattan. he took me to the premier of jesus christ superstar and introduced me to jesus christ and judah and madeleine back stage. he said, who do you want to meet? i said, king herrod. he said well, he's not out of costume. i want to thank mayor london breed and supervisor rafael

mandelman. you know what? i have to say a word. when i first met rafael, he was president of the milk club, and he told me he was going to be supervisor. and the first time i communicated with a young lady named london breed was on facebook. we used to say happy birthday, and it's just so amazing that we have -- incredible that we have these amazing figures. the first time with the moscone family was at the 20th anniversary with rebecca and gina. it was freezing cold, and we had it at the park, and the only warmth i felt that night was that i believed that i had some comfort to know that george and harvey left this world together, and that gave me some incredible warmth. 1978, mayor breed already mentioned it. first asian american

supervisor, first african american woman supervisor, first lgbt supervisor. the reason that we had all of that was due to the inclusion and the tremendous on-the-ground and compassionate work that mayor moscone led in this city. that has led us to today where we have an african american mayor, an african american woman leading us, and our board of supervisors. do you know how much that says to the world? in days where people are being shot because they're walking the streets, and they have a different color than the majority in that town -- do you know how much that means not just in san francisco but around the world? as mayor brown said, we lost

two extraordinary individuals when we lost harvey and we lost george. and the truth is they were extraordinary. they were extraordinary, and they believed we were all extraordinary. they didn't believe there was such thing as ordinary people. they believed we all had a passion and purpose in life, and that we need to be given all of the possibilities to fulfill that passion and purpose, regardless of the color of our skin, regardless of our ethnic background, regardless of our religion, regardless of whether we were an immigrant, regardless of who we loved. they all believes we all had tremendous potential, extraordinary potential to give the world. so on behalf of the milk

family, i want to thank san francisco. at a time when we have an executive at the helm of this country who has no moral compass. has no sense of humanity, who is doing unspeakable acts of inhumanity. in fact i'm leaving here tomorrow to do -- to work with stakeholders at the u.n. to protest the united states pulling out of the human rights council of the human rights commission. can you imagine that? so thank you, san francisco, for reminding us of the hope that my uncle wanted us to continue on with his words. let the bullets who smash through my brain smash through every door. let it smash the message, and that message is not just for lgbt, that's for anyone.

anyone who's not being given their human rights, that's for anyone who's being diminished in any way by society. your differences, what makes you district is the medicine that heals the work. and we in san francisco, you in san francisco are reminding the world those differences are the gift. thank you very much. [applause] >> the hon. london breed: thank you. what an honor to have so many amazing speakers with the stories and the inspiration, and i am really honored to represent an amazing city filled with so many incredible people. and here to speak at this time, i'd like to introduce the cochair of the harvey milk democratic club, honey mahogany. [applause] >> i want to say a special

thank you to the family of harvey milk and george moscone, especially jonathan moscone. thank you so much for inviting me to speak here today. it's a real privilege to speak amongst such incredible leaders, visionaries and public servants of san francisco. today, we are here to honor the legacy of two great leaders: george moscone and harvey milk. while their deaths were premature, they live on in the movement they established and continue to inspire. george moscone was our first mayor to ensure that the diversity of our city was reflected in city hall. he appointed people of color, days and le -- gays and lesbians and women and people of color in numbers never seen before. as a proud could president of the harvey milk lgbtq

democratic club, i am thrilled to see this legacy thrive and this movement continue to build momentum. as a club, we were founded on the idea that queer people needed to organize for our collective interests and safety. we were tired of seeing our community overlooked and abused by the city and its institutions, institutions we we helped to build and fund and that were supposed to protect us. we demanded that our value, our citizenships, and our humanity be recognized. but change happened slowly. while we have made progress over the last several decades, in many ways, the same o oppressive systems, though weakened, still exist. as we push forward, oppression pushes back.

we see this in our most vulnerable communities who always end up serving as scapegoats. we see this in the transgender community, including being able to serve in the military, being denied to use the rest room, being denied service and even attempting to deny us the right to exist. we see this in the despicable attacks on immigrants through the introduction of unconstitutional legislation and most recently through state sanctioned violence at our border. we see this in the way that we treat women. how women's voices are seldom heard unless they are echoed by a man's, how their leadership is relentlessly undermined. how we continue to hold women to a double or triple standard, constantly raising the bar for women and ridiculing those who dare to suck said. it may seem that not much has

changed over the yaerears, but that's not true. progress has been made, and more importantly, i believe we now know who it is that we have to do. the harvey milk lgbtq democratic club has made it a priority to uplift the voices of all opressed candidates. we endorsed janice lee who was recently elected to the b.a.r.t. board, who was the currently the only elected queer woman of color to the b.a.r.t. board. gabrielle lopez's win in particular shows the power of success through grassroots mobilization. her campaign was rooted in community support without much help from the establishment, and yet, she won with the

second most votes in the race, making her the first bilingual latinx person on the school board in over 20 years. [applause] >> the milk club's endorsed candidates won in every supervisorial race this year. we also helped to pass important propositions like prop e which will preserve the legacy of arts and culture in san francisco, helping to fund equity based arts initiatives, and the vital work of cultural districts. we helped to ensure the passage of prop c because risk is our city. it is our home and we the people as well as the business s and corporations have a duty to fulfill to all of our

residents. [applause] >> continuing in the legacy of george moscone and harvey milk, it is time to usher in an era of social integrity and responsibility. it's time we prioritized serving the under served, helping those most in need, and upholding what is good and what is just. when we advocate for the protection of immigrants, when we call for the criminal justice reform and an end to police abuse and corruption, when we demand that multibillion-dollar corporations pay their fair share in taxes to pollutions that they helped to create, when we call out those who have let us down, we honor those who have come before us, walking in their footprints and carrying their legacy. my deepest, deepest thanks to george moscone and harvey milk.

for all that you have laid the groundwo groundwork for us and to inspire us to keep fighting, we will press on in your memory. thank you. [applause] >> and i hope you will all join us at the candlelight vigil in the castro tonight at 7:00 p.m. >> the hon. london breed: thank you. and our last speaker for this afternoon will be our state senator, scott wiener. >> thank you, madam mayor. i want to thank the mayor and supervisor mandelman for organizing this today. oh, she left. i was going to congratulate supervisor stefani on her election, as well. i was eight years old when mayor moscone and supervisor milk was assassinated, and i

remember my parents talking about this horrible thing that wasn't supposed to happen in the united states of america in terms of that kind of political assas assassination. i was a young little gay kid, obviously, not out of the closet, but i knew there was something special about what happened in san francisco. when you look at mayor moscone who sort of ushered in the modern era of san francisco. when we think of what is san francisco, george moscone played a critical role in allowing that to happen and allowing everyone to blue cross cross -- blossom in this city. when you look at what happened in this city in the last couple of city, especially around hiv/aids, what harvey milk did, he didn't just give this community hope, he in many ways

helped teach this community and helped us understand that we have the strength to survive and thrive, that we don't have to always rely on other people to bring us up, that we are able to pull ourselves up, and without the hope and the strength that harvey milk helped create, i don't know if things might have gone a little differently with hiv/aids. when you look at the carnage that happened in this community, but the strength of this community was able to make it through. not everyone made it through, but we're still here as a community after everything that has happened, and harvey played such a key role in creating the atmosphere in the lgbt community to allow that to happen. the other thing that harvey did was he made clear that we needed our own seat at the table, that allies are fantastic. we can't do anything without allies, and we have a lot of

allies who fight for our community standing behind me here today. but we have to be at the table, as well. and we can't take that for granted. i think sometimes in san francisco, we take for granted that we will always have lgbtq elected officials, and as rafael mentioned, having one member of the board of supervisors from our community, that hasn't happened for a long time. and so we have to keep being very intentional in making sure that we are cultivating and identifying and lifting up young lgbt leaders to be the next generation because it can slip away very, very easily. so thank you harvey, thank you, george, and let's remember, and let's celebrate. thank you. [applause] >> the hon. london breed: i want to thank each and every one of you for being here today to celebrate the life and the legacy of mayor george moscone and supervisor harvey milk.

thank you so much to all the elected leaders who are here today, as well as members of the family, and we hope to see each and every one of you tonight at the candlelight vigil in the castro at 7:00 p.m. thank you, and have a wonderful day.

>> are you guys ready? five, four, three, two, one. [cheers and applause]

>> e.a. all right. e.a. >> thank you so much for joining us today. today with mayor breed, we are honored to celebrate our community's -- community's brazilians as we continue to advocate for equality and human rights. -- community's equality as is to continue to advocate for equality and human rights. thank you. [applause] from the cafeteria riot to the nation's first trans- city department to, we have, so far. thanks to many of you and the community leaders and allies who have paved the way before us.

today, you are part of making history. as the trump administration continues to attack our communities in san francisco, we stand up against these attacks and celebrate each other. here in san francisco, we don't erase people. we understand that our differences are what makes us special. i'm so proud to work for a city that stands firm that we will not allow discrimination of any kind unchecked. san francisco continues to protect all of our communities and be a sanctuary city regardless of the federal administration. regardless of how they want to redefine gender, ban us from military service or strip away our rights -- rights for medically necessary care. at the office of transgender initiatives, we are working every day to advance policies, program and equity for trends

and nonconforming gender communities. earlier this month, we partnered with mayor breed to release a directive requiring all city departments to broaden gender identity options across all city forms. [applause] >> furthermore, we are providing trans- inclusion training across all city employees because everyone should feel safe when reaching our city services. also, last week, our advisory committee had the opportunity to meet with mayor breed and discuss several community priorities that we identified through a series of community stakeholder meetings. i'm looking forward to working with the mayor and the board of supervisors and other city departments to move these important priorities for words. i am excited to share that we are launching two exciting pilots this year to better serve our diverse communities including our trans- and lgbt

emigrant fellowship program, as well as a civic bridge program to increase navigation services so trans folks can access the wide range of services we have in the city. as i started in this role in december, i have had many opportunities to engage but our community has been under attack more now than ever before. we work to create name policies across the city and we track anti- lgbt legislation and we will make sure that any state that tries to discriminate against us gets added to the travel ban, and contracting ban because we will not do business with states that think discrimination is okay. [applause] >> furthermore, we are advancing our workforce program to provide direct trends services to the tenderloin and the soma areas. we are also creating antiviolence programs to make

sure that housing programs and providers are inclusive of trans people. we all deserve a home in san francisco. [applause] >> in conclusion, as the chump administration tries to strip away our rights, it's important we all remember that we will continue to be protected in san francisco through our leadership , through our office, and the work that each of you are doing every day. together we can remember our trans resilience and that we are never alone. i hope you will join us for this important work because we cannot do it alone. volunteer with local programs, get involved, volunteer and give because we all need a fierce cheerleader. so together, let's make sure that no one gets left behind. everyone deserves a safe place to sleep, wellness and a community that celebrates them. now it is my great honor to

welcome our wonderful mayor, lyndon breed. [applause] -- london breed. [applause] >> thank you. aren't we lucky to have such incredible leadership for our office of transgender initiatives here. we really appreciate you. thank you. thank you all for joining us here today. we are here to celebrate our transgender and gender nonconforming communities in san francisco and across the country i would also like to thank the supervisors who have joined us here today, including supervisor raffaella mandelman, supervisor vallie brown and president president of the board of supervisors, melia cohen. thank you for being here. [applause] today, we are recognizing this important week by lighting up city hall in the trans- flag

colours. blue, white and pink and if you are lucky to get one of these pens, may be asked anthony, i think he has a few extra. as well as raising the transgendered flag, which we just did, outside of the front of city hall. these are symbols that recognize our commitment to protecting the rights of all san franciscans. in these challenging times, i am so proud to be a mayor of a city that celebrates our diversity and our rich history with our trans- community. from our roots as a first city in the country to honor transgendered date, a remembrance to today, where we have the first office of transgender initiative. and a great leader in claire. as i look around, i think about the challenges facing us as a nation and as a safety. i am reminded, constantly, of

the resilience of the trans community. we have a federal administration that attacks our most vulnerable communities, time and time again here in san francisco, we won't stand for it. we will fight against it each and every time by standing together. that's why, earlier this month, i sent an executive directive to all city departments requiring the expansion of gender identity options across all city forms and mandating trans- inclusion training for all city employees working with the public. [applause] >> this is just one way we can make sure that our trends community is respected and supported, and in san francisco, no one is erased. i am proud of how far we have come as a city and being inclusive and welcoming, but i know, i know there is still a

lot of work to do. just as you have remained resilient in the face of adversity, i will remain committed to addressing the needs and priorities of the trans and lgbtq communities in san francisco. last week, i had an opportunity to meet with the transgender advisory committee to discuss many of the priorities that we all share. we talked about things like the crisis that has unfortunately impacted disproportionately our lgbtq community. thanks to their work and our office of transgender initiatives, we are focused on expanding employment, healthcare , and educational opportunities for our lgbtq community. we are committed to preventing any discrimination or violence or any assaults against all of our residents, as well as bringing justice for those who

have experienced these tragedies we will not rest until there is equity and ensure a basic human rights for all of our communities. but i know i can't do this work alone and i want to thank all of you for joining us here today. not only for what we have all ready achieved but for what we will continue to achieve by working together. and that is why i wanted to do something really special to commemorate this time and -- here it is. [laughter] >> i am not only committed to making sure that we celebrate our transgender community, but we honor it by doing something that has not been done anywhere else in our country. today, i am happy to recognize the entire month of november as transgender month in the city

and county of san francisco. [applause] >> i would also like to recognize and appreciate the work of our transgender advisory committee because they are spending countless hours working to push forward the right policies, the right investments, the right things here in the city that we need to do in order to address many of the challenges we face. here, i would like to present commissioner melanie with this award, as well as honey mahogany , two of the leaders of the transgender advisory committee here and we will do everything we can to continue to work together in order to move the great initiatives forward based on the work that we know you are both committed to doing. thank you both for being here today. [applause]

now i give you an opportunity to speak. >> good afternoon, everybody. some of us are bay area locals. some of us have been born and raised in san francisco. some of us relocate here for a better tomorrow. san francisco is the first city in the nation to have a trans alleged government office. this city is committed to the advancement of the transgender community. i am a proud member of the transgender advisory committee and i am honored to work alongside some of the fiercest community leaders in san francisco. if you are part of the t.a.c. team, please stand up. we would like to acknowledge you [cheers and applause] >> thank you for being leaders in our community.

at the t.a.c., we help prioritize community needs and give recommendations that advise the office of transgender initiatives and the mayor's office. i am also a human rights commission or. i was appointed by our late mayor ed lee, may he rest in peace. i would not be here today without the guidance of some amazing people like teresa sparks, cecelia chung, nikki, jason chan, and francis sang. thank you all. i mentioned this because i want to stress the importance of leadership. this recent midterm election, we had a rainbow wave, everybody. record breaking numbers of lgbtq , women, people of color elected into office. that is amazing. [applause] >> i would love to see even more leadership programs like s.f. team, transgender empowerment

advocacy membership program at the san francisco community health centre and more of encouraging civic engagement, leadership and pathways to appoint more trans and gender nonconforming folks to city boards and commissions. it is crucial to normalize trends people as leader -- transgender people as leaders. they need to see more representation that they identify with. youth need to see and believe that they can be leaders too. i love san francisco and i truly believe it is, and will continue to be the best city for my competing -- for my community to live and survive in. happy transgender awareness week , now month. thank you. [laughter] [applause] >> thank you, melanie. good day, everyone. happy day today. as someone who was born and raised in this city, which is steeped in so much history, i am

proud that san francisco continues to be a leader in the fight for justice and equality, especially as it pertains to the transgender community. while our community has been under attack, not just by the current federal administration, but by many who preceded them, we continue to exist despite their best efforts to stymie us, shut us out or eliminate us. we have history in this city. we can directly trace the lgbt civil rights movement back to the corner of turk and taylor where in 1966, the riots was the first documented collective uprising of lgbt individuals in the country. [applause] >> the riots recently inspired the founding of the transgendered cultural district. the first officially recognized transgendered district in this country. [applause]

>> it's important that we remember this history. and that we consider how it impacts us today. the tenderloin is still has the highest concentration of trends -- transgender folks in san francisco. this is changing with the tide of new development. the transgendered cultural district was created not just as a way of preserving the importance of the legacy of the tenderloin, but also as a mechanism to push back against the displacement of the transgendered community. it was created to be an advocate to serve as a resource and a safe space. it is has been -- it has been my honor to present the district thus far along with cofounders. it has also been a great pleasure to work with claire farley and others in the

salespersons from the office of sales -- of transgender initiative. oti has been a tremendous resource and support for the community being a strong advocate for inclusion and frequently prioritizing the voices of underrepresented members of the community including people of color, formerly incarcerated individuals, and the undocumented. through working with o.t.i. and serving on the trans- advisory council, we have been able to make key recommendations on how to best support the needs of the community in san francisco. these recommendations are improving access to safe housing for transgendered and lgbtq communities by providing targeted housing programs and services that prioritize vulnerable populations such as transgendered, homeless individuals, recovering from gender affirming procedures, and lgbtq older adults. improving mental health of communities by developing and implementing specific mental health services programs and

peer support initiative and expanding funding such as dedicating resources to support trans- arts and community events increasing economic development program designed for various trans- communities living in poverty are at risk of living in poverty. increasing access to education and employment opportunities by instituting gender systems, increasing access to legal immigration services and legal services for people with criminal records, increasing civic engagement of communities by developing and implementing leadership development programming, increasing care, planning and care coordination by developing and implementing navigation strategies, and reducing rates of incarceration, were recidivism, and economic disparities by increasing funding for prevention for programs focused on trans communities. we hope to be able to continue to work with the mayor process -- the mayor's office and the city and county of san francisco

to make sure these recommendations are implemented so that the contributions of the transgendered community to our city's history, strength, and culture, are not just honored, but carried forward into the future. thank you. [applause] >> we could not do this work alone without our fabulous members of the board. one particular board member new to district eight is the only out gay supervisor on the board and we could not do the work without him. please welcome supervisor mandelman. [applause] >> thank you, claire. i believe we've been joined by my colleague, asha safai.

thank you. at a time when the lgbtq community and trans people in particular are under siege from a hostile and toxic presidential administration, it is clear -- it is crucial for san francisco to stand with and support the community. i want to thank mayor breed for her strong and immediate repudiation of the president's attempt to erase transgendered people by undermining them. as a supervisor for district eight and the only supervisor, i feel a special responsibility to represent our entire queer community and to be very gay doing it. and until we have a transit supervisor, and i suspect there may be one or more of those out in the audience or behind me, it is my honor to advocate for the trans community and to be here today. in san francisco, i think we all know the transgender community

continues to face disproportionate and unacceptably high rates of violence, homelessness and unemployment. despite the advances we've made as a city, it is clear we need to invest in additional support services and resources to address these disparities. since taking office in july, i worked closely with claire and the staff at the office of transgender initiatives to start inclusive proper -- policies and programs for the folks in san francisco. the mayor did her proclamation. we have our strategic -- strategy of honor from the board of supervisors. i'm honored to share this commendation from the board with a transgendered advisory committee. this is the first of its kind. it works to address important issues impacting trends and gender nonconforming communities committee members wrote represent diverse sectors and leverage their experience to help inform local policies, priorities and grams.

where is our t.a.c. leadership? come on up. here we have this. then we will do the photograph and folks will get it. it is good. [applause] >> all right. thank you. in these challenging times, it is important we remember our history and the elders who came before us. at the same time, we must also support our trends and lgbtq youth who are the leadership of tomorrow. today i'm honored to introduce two important community leaders. donna persona is a legendary community advocate and cocreator of the compton cafeteria hit play and performer at aunt charlie got shot lounge in san francisco. or story has been featured around the world including in the out magazine article, tenderloin is the night and in the short film beautiful by night. jojo tie is the youth commissioner representing district eight and a health worker.

jojo is a clear, trans and filipino born and raised in san francisco and based in the castro. from their own life experiences of navigating personal and institutional challenges, they are committing to supporting lg deep -- lgbtq youth through luth -- youth empowerment and leadership. please welcome donna and jojo. [applause] >> good afternoon. i'm donna persona and i would like to talk a little bit about the honor i've had in cowriting the play. when i was on the fence, coming from san jose, i wanted to find people that i felt were more like me. so i don't know how i came to

this decision that san francisco would be the place to come, but i got on a greyhound bus and i came to san francisco. i couldn't get into bars, i didn't know where they were anyway. i landed on a place, compton's cafeteria. an all-night diner. i would say that is where i first -- i saw these beautiful women and i later learned that they were born as male. but i became friends with them and i learned about their lives. they had decided to match there outside with their insides. they had what i call a courageous nests. by deciding to live the way that

they know that they are, they were started by being abandoned by their families. they had no family, and they came to san francisco, and their lives became completely criminalized. they couldn't get jobs. they couldn't go to school. they couldn't get any kind of healthcare. so this play will tell the story of their lives. when you see this play and hear these stories and learn about them, you will understand what informs their choices in life. i will say that these women were sex workers and they ended up in prison, sometimes.

in one case, in many cases, they found themselves in prison because they were impersonating a woman. they were wearing women's clothes. they went to jail for that, served time, and you come out of jail, and you can't go to college, you can't get a job. so it spirals down from that. so they did what they had to do. but i knew them, and i'm saying that they were wonderful human beings, and they created a family together, themselves. so this story and this play will let people know why they made the choices they made and the bravery. their bravery. this happened 52 years ago. i would like to say that i think

they put in place the foundation of liberation. [applause] through their personal needs, this comes with a foundation. they sought out healthcare and transitions. by transitioning those days, they had what they called hormone parties. there was nothing illegal. there was no place safe to do any of this. so i hope you can imagine how traumatic that is. it is hearsay. you come to this place and you can get injections for this or that. today, i know one woman who is suffering from the procedure she

had back then. imagine this. when somebody -- when one of them ran into trouble with one of their procedures, who do they go to? i can imagine somebody saying, you didn't like what you got, go to the police. that is impossible. by laying down the things that they need, housing, education, healthcare, and just being permitted to feel normal, that's all they wanted was to feel normal. today, we are benefiting from what they laid down. the needs that transgendered people need. and with this play, this is something i say from time to time. these ladies that i knew, they were born, they lived a while,

and then they died. most of them died. they couldn't survive. so they didn't get anyone saying to them, everything you are doing and who you are is wonderful and right. they did not get to hear that. we get to hear that now and we get support. they did not get that. so what is most meaningful for me is to know that their lives are engendering good things now. so their life is not in vain. it wasn't in vain. and i want to believe -- i am honouring them and i hope you will honor them. and somehow their life was not a waste. i wasn't brave enough to do that and do what they did.

but they came before us and they are our modules. we heard about it already tonight and today. there is a push back. there is forces that want to take away what we've gained. so i'm going to say, now, more than ever, we have to get out there and do something. i am going to say, sometimes in the past, other transgendered people or people under the clear spectrum, i tell them, just by presenting in the streets, you are doing part of the job. people see you and they say, they exist, they belong here. but we need to do more of that now. i will ask -- [applause] >> i will ask each and every one of you whether you are transgender or not, to do something. don't stay home.

you have to do something to keep thriving. [applause] >> thank you. >> i would also like to say, we have transgender day of remembrance. please remember this group. that is part of remembrance. they deserve it. and the youth, i want the history and the older people like me, i'm 72 years old, to come together and fight together we will hand over the torch to the young people. i will stay busy myself. [laughter] [applause] >> thank you for sharing your story. today, i am here because i believe that transgender and youth are the leaders of tomorrow. i wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the work of my

transgender sisters and leaders of the past. the screaming queens who righted over 50 years ago in the tenderloin. at dream of the future, where transgendered youth art, empowered and celebrated for who they are, of a future that lets me on a pep -- be unapologetically meat without having to need or explain who i am. today, the transgender nonconforming youth of san francisco face many barriers. a resilience helps us overcome prejudice, discrimination and violence. our wisdom and knowledge guides us as we navigate the multiple institutions that were not created for us. we are more than numbers and statistics. we are contributors and leaders in our communities. we are a community that is here to be up for one another and support and uplift each other to heal and grow. we will not be quiet and back down until we are included in the conversation and decision making process with full equity.

what trends use leadership needs to meet -- means to me as having visibility. it looks like taking a step forward in the right direction towards positive social exchange it sounds like our voices and reclaiming our rights. it feels like freedom and liberation. it ignites others to take action with us. as we gather here today to kick off transgender awareness week, i want to challenge all of you to envision a future where transit -- transgender nonconforming youth are thriving in a more inclusive environment. it takes each of us to build awareness, speak up and be linked to bad policies that support safety and leadership for trans people. thank you. [cheers and applause] >> i want to thank you all for coming out today and thank you to mayor breed. supervisors and our t.a.c.

we can do this work together. don't give up and stay hopeful. join us for a little reception. thank you. [♪] [♪] >> i just don't know that you can find a neighborhood in the city where you can hear music stands and take a ride on the low rider down the street. it is an experience that you can't have anywhere else in san francisco. [♪]

[♪] >> district nine is a in the southeast portion of the city. we have four neighborhoods that i represent. st. mary's park has a completely unique architecture. very distinct feel, and it is a very close to holly park which is another beautiful park in san francisco. the bernal heights district is unique in that we have the hell which has one of the best views in all of san francisco. there is a swinging hanging from a tree at the top. it is as if you are swinging over the entire city. there are two unique aspects. it is considered the fourth chinatown in san francisco. sixty% of the residents are of chinese ancestry. the second unique, and fun aspect about this area is it is the garden district. there is a lot of urban agriculture and it was where the city grew the majority of the flowers. not only for san francisco but for the region. and of course, it is the

location in mclaren park which is the city's second biggest park after golden gate. many people don't know the neighborhood in the first place if they haven't been there. we call it the best neighborhood nobody has ever heard our. every neighborhood in district nine has a very special aspect. where we are right now is the mission district. the mission district is a very special part of our city. you smell the tacos at the [speaking spanish] and they have the best latin pastries. they have these shortbread cookies with caramel in the middle. and then you walk further down and you have sunrise café. it is a place that you come for the incredible food, but also to learn about what is happening in the neighborhood and how you can help and support your community. >> twenty-fourth street is the birthplace of the movement. we have over 620 murals.

it is the largest outdoor public gallery in the country and possibly the world. >> you can find so much political engagement park next to so much incredible art. it's another reason why we think this is a cultural district that we must preserve. [♪] >> it was formed in 2014. we had been an organization that had been around for over 20 years. we worked a lot in the neighborhood around life issues. most recently, in 2012, there were issues around gentrification in the neighborhood. so the idea of forming the cultural district was to help preserve the history and the culture that is in this neighborhood for the future of families and generations. >> in the past decade, 8,000 latino residents in the mission district have been displaced from their community. we all know that the rising cost

of living in san francisco has led to many people being displaced. lower and middle income all over the city. because it there is richness in this neighborhood that i also mentioned the fact it is flat and so accessible by trip public transportation, has, has made it very popular. >> it's a struggle for us right now, you know, when you get a lot of development coming to an area, a lot of new people coming to the area with different sets of values and different culture. there is a lot of struggle between the existing community and the newness coming in. there are some things that we do to try to slow it down so it doesn't completely erase the communities. we try to have developments that is more in tune with the community and more equitable development in the area. >> you need to meet with and gain the support and find out the needs of the neighborhoods. the people on the businesses that came before you. you need to dialogue and show respect. and then figure out how to bring

in the new, without displacing the old. [♪] >> i hope we can reset a lot of the mission that we have lost in the last 20 years. so we will be bringing in a lot of folks into the neighborhoods pick when we do that, there is a demand or, you know, certain types of services that pertain more to the local community and working-class. >> back in the day, we looked at mission street, and now it does not look and feel anything like mission street. this is the last stand of the latino concentrated arts, culture and cuisine and people. we created a cultural district to do our best to conserve that feeling. that is what makes our city so cosmopolitan and diverse and makes us the envy of the world. we have these unique neighborhoods with so much cultural presence and learnings, that we want to preserve. [♪]

>> all right. welcome, everyone, to our and use and transportation committee, i'm jane kim, we have katy tang and ahsha safai.