san francisco housing facility. from the very beginning, this whole transition of public housing and affordable housing was a good idea. but many, many residents didn't think it would ever actually happen. it's been a life changing experience. and i'm truly grateful for the whole initiative and all those that work on the whole sf initiative. they've done a wonderful job accommodating the residents, who for many years have lived in delap tated housing. now they have quality housing. i was on a street where the living room and the kitchen and stairs. it wasn't large enough to accommodate. the children are grown. i had the accomplish of having a dishwasher in my home. i really like that.

[laughter] i really like not having to wash dishes by hand. we still do it from time to time. the mayor's office has been a real friend to us, a partner. we know that our city supports us. i love san francisco. just to be able to stay in my community and continue to help the residents who live here and continue to see my neighborhoods move into new housing, it's been a real joy. >> thank you. we love you always. good morning, everyone.

the meeting will come to order. welcome to the march 4th, 2019 meeting of the rules committee. i'm supervisor hillary ronen. seated to my right is supervisor saman. and seated to my left is gordon mar. our clerk is victor young. i would like to think charles cremenik, and i'm sorry for mispronouncing your name. mr. clerk, do you have any announcements? >> yes. please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices. and include your documents to the clerk. items after today will appear on the march 12th board of supervisor's agenda, unless otherwise stated. >> mr. clerk, is it appropriate to call items one, two, and three together? >> yes, we can do that. item is a motion to

approving/rejecting richard johns to the historic preservation commissioner for a term ending 2022. and item to is a motion for approving/rejecting the mayor's nomination of kate black for appointment to the preservation commitment for a period ending december 31st, 20022. and the third is approving/rejecting the mayor's nomination of andrew wolfum for reappointment to the historic commission for a term ending december 31st, 2022. >> thank you so much. i wan wanted to give an opportunity the three to come up and say a few words about their reappointment. >> i'm richard johns, and this would be my third term as a commissioner, occupying the historyancy.

one of the important things changing this since i've been on the commission is our interest not in just buildings and monuments, but the people who created the buildings and monuments. so one of the things we are doing -- excuse me, doing now, is we have order of context statements. and those are mini histories of different ethnic and racial groups. so we can really learn where theylized they lived, when they lived there, how they moved through the city, and not just what they left behind, the brick and stones, but institutions they left behind, what businesses they left behind. what ideas they left behind that have helped us create what we now have. and when we study those things, we find, well, what we thought wasn't necessarily true.

and it's very important for us to know that the latino community really started in the mission, but didn't last long, and the real roots of it are in front of the church of our lady of guadalupe, where the broadway tunnel cuts in, a neighborhood that was destroyed when ththat tunnel was built in 1952. and now a latino group has moved back to the mission, and it seems to be shifting various places. but along the way really significant contributions have been made. we're also finishing up the african-american context statement. and that, too, has had some surprising developments and twists and turns. so i would say that those are the things of which i have been most proud. with one exception, and that is how collegial our commission has been. we almost always rule

unanimously. over 99% of the time, though frequently for different reasons. i don't think it is a sign of weakness. i think it is a sign that the commissioners are willing to listen to one another and take into account the concerns of each commissioner so that we have move forward together. >> thank you. chairwoman: ms. black? >> good morning. i'm kate black. i'm the new kid on the commission. i'm really happy to be here today. and i'm honored that mayor breed has submitted for your consideration my reappointment. if i'm reappointed, i will continue to bring 30 years of municipal planning and historic preservation background. most of my carrie career was in

the public sector. so, like you, i know how hard it is to be prepared. it is very important to be prepared. it is important to work hard. it is important to listen to all of the stakeholders. i love being able to wade into controversial projects that have competing objectives. and with a lot of deliberation and help from my fellow commissioners, waive the competing objectives, and come out with a sound, dispensable decision, whether it is a really large project or really small project. i'm really proud to have been a participant in the city's groundbreaking cultural districts. and as a planner, i know there are other planners throughout the country copying us. and when i attended the historic preservation conference held her in san francisco, everybody was asking questions about it. it was very important

legislation. this summer will mark 31 years since i moved to san francisco. i was then, as i am now, completely taken by this city. i love its welcoming, diverse population, the distinctive neighborhoods and cultural traditions, the small-town feel, despite its size. i love the fact that it is on the bay with the bridges, and it's a port city. as a preservationist, i love how the city built itself out over steep hills, and so optmistically rebuilt itself in 1906. and i love how it has evolved through the last century, resulting in today's agricultural and neighborhood identities. all of these things are what draw millions of people here, and people like me, who want to live and work here, and visitors and their money, who come each year to the city. as a planner, i know how

important it is to evolve and adapt to modern needs, such as the city and region's desperate housing shortage, especially when it comes to affordable housing. i would be very honored to continue to serve on the commission. >> thank you so much. any questions, colleagues? no? thank you so much. mr. wolfrum? >> members of the rules committee, my name is andrew wolfrum, and i thank you for hearing our reappointments today. i'm up for the historic act tec architect seat, and i'm a principle at a an architectural firm in the bay area. i'm honored that i served on the commission since 2009. and the last four years as president. and in that time, the

historic preservation commission has made many accomplishments. we've designated numerous landmarks, in underrepresented parts of the city. we've had a major focus on cultural legacy and cultural history, and the setting up of the legacy business registry, which we feel is very important. one of the major roles of the historic preservation commissioner is a more technical one, and that is we approve alterations to landmarks. how do you balance necessity and historic preservation, because a lot of them have barriers to entry, and we're trying to make the city more accessible to people, and how do you deal with failing building materials? in my professional work -- i've been doing this for the last 30 years, i worked on the san francisco ferry building,

the officers' club, and some major important buildings in the city. that experience, understanding how to balance all of these technical problems, is really valuable on the historic preservation committee. i'm very excited about some of the new issues coming up on h.c.v., and it's a really important item, not only in looking to protect landmarks that we don't know about or potential landmarks and historic sites we don't know about, but also in clarifying the process so that if owners have a property, it is very time cotim consuming for them to know is it historic or not? so the survey will both clear a way to development in places where it makes sense, and it would also protect historic sites where they exist. so i look forward to your support. and i'm happy to answer any questions. >> chairwoman: thank you

so much. any questions? >> thank you. >> chairwoman: i'll now open this open this item to any member of the public, including the former supervisor, kevin dusty. >> good morning, supervisors. thank you so much for welcoming us. i want to say i've known richard johns for 25 years. i have had the opportunity to work for him, and when i had the privilege of serving as a supervisor, i advocated strongly for his appointment, and i'm proud to hear of the work he is doing. >> thank you. >> good morning, commissioner. thank you for allowing me some time to support all three commissioners for reappointment. i'm a born and raised san franciscoan, and i'm kind of the general voice, the voice that kind of bridges the community with the

commission and to help to define things in normal language so everybody can be a cultural and history historical preservation. and i strongly support the reappointment of all three commissioners. >> chairman: : thank you, and than thank you so much for your work. >> good morning, supervisors. i have a letter i sent last night. i'm aaron hyland, i'm a district 8 resident, almost 30 years, and i sit as the president of the historic preservation commission. i'm very pleased to support all three nominees. commissioner black is a seasoned planning professional, and her addition to the commission has been really well-received, and we look forward to her continuing on. commissioner johns has really kind of championed up to more consistent with our decisions that are

clear and predictable, and that allows us to build more trust in the process and in the community. and lastly, commissioner wolfrum, he and i are both architectural commissioners. he is a well-respected colleague of mine. and lastly, i'd like to say that it might be unusual for the president of the commission to be lobbying the board for other commissioners, but what is really important on our commission is each seat has an expertise. in in that expertise, our city is really huge challenges, especially with affordable housing. and how that's going to be achieved along with protecting our historic resources, i think it's important that our commission has some continuity and some longevity, and some memory. so i support the

nominations. >> chairman: : thank you so much for u all of your work. >> my name is cindy hysman, and i'm the executive director of the california preservation foundation. and i'm here to support the nomination of andrew wolfrum to the preservation commission. i've worked with andrew over the past 10 years in various capacities, through the california preservation foundation's work and initiative. i know andrew well. he has over 30 years experience in the architecture and design, and has worked on some of san francisco's most notable buildings, the ferry building, the former pacific telephone building, the san francisco city officers' club, and the city landmark, which was reused and an unused health facility, and converted it to over 150 units of housing. andrew is active in a

number of organizations aligned with his professional interests, including having served on the board of trustees of the california preservation foundation. because of his experience and his acumen, the california preservation foundation appointed andrew to serve on a number of committees, including a recent appointment to serve as the co-chair as the california preservation design awards, and in this capacity is responsible for coordinating the work of a jury of design professionals, and is designed with reviewing some of the most diverse and interesting projects throughout california. for these and many other reasons, i support his nomination. >> thank you so much. next speaker. >> good morning supervisors, i'm sharon lie, and i have known kate black for over well over a decade. i'm here in support of her. she was my very first boss

out of planning school. she gave me my start in urban planning and really enlightened me in appreciating historic buildings, as many other planners who came through her as a training gowned for other positions. in fact, we have multiple planners in san francisco planning that actually got their start with kate as well. i want to stress that, you know, kate has really shown a lot of dedication towards the public good. she has immense work ethic. i have known her to be super detail-oriented, and i know she reads everything that comes in her packet. she really does take pride and joy from her opportunity in representing san franciscans in part of being a stewart of the h.p.c. i also want to say kate is not only an affective mentor to so many young planners like me, but in her time as a department

head, she has always been a supporter of diversitiy in her employment, in her hiring. in fact, the majority of her planners have always been either of minority, ethnic minority, or in the lgbt community. i know kate does not -- she probably doesn't even keep track of that, but it is very noticeable to the rest of us, as a minority myself. i would say for the city to continue to have someone like her representing on h.p.c. is certainly something to the public's benefit. thank you. >> thank you so much. next speaker. >> >> good morning, supervisors. my name is diane sidchampion, and i'm here as a member of the community to support the renomination of kate black. we served together on the nowi valleys democratic board, and i'm a long-time resident of district 8 and

a retired union lawyer. i appeared before the rules committee when kate was first nominated for the historic preservation commission, and i'm even more pleased to support her reappointment because of the good work she has already done on the commission. she was instrumental in creating the castro lgbt district, and the african-american arts cultural district, developing new ideas for preserving historic buildings that will add new arts and nighttime activities, and supporting the central soma plan. kate is well-suited for this commission. she loves the city and has a wealth of experience and expertise from her many years working as a city planner. she is cooperative and collaborative. she does not let her ego get in the way. she is hard-working, diligent, thoughtful, and open-minded. kate gives due consideration to every issue. she has always listened to

all sides, and makes a decision based on the facts rather than any preconceived notions. above all, kate has the highest integrity. i urge you to approve the reappointment of kate black. thank you so much. >> thank you so much. good morning. >> good morning, committee members. milmike buehler, president and c.e.o. of san francisco heritage. i'm here to speak in support of all three candidates before you for their reappointment. each offer their own experexpertise and experience, but they have proven to work very affectively as a group. they have distinguished themselves as a constructive voice in balancing the city's needs with its responsibility as stewards of the historic and cultural assets. heritage is particularly grateful for the current

composition. and going beyond the mandate to embrace cultural heritage preservation, particularly through programs such as the cultural districts program. and some of you have been leaders as well in that effort. and their reappointment of the commissioners before you will ensure that the commission will continue to prioritize, sustain communities, and not just the buildings that compromise them. >> thank you so much. is there any other member wanted to speak? seeing none, it is closed. i want to thank you all for coming out today and all of the commissioners up for reappointment today. i think it is a point of pride for the city as the legislative aide for former supervisor david compostwhen he created the legacy business.

and the program of the latino district, and as the supervisor who continued that work and created the over all cultural district legislation. i just want to say that working with the historic preservation commission and all of you has just been an honor, and a highlight. i've learned so much from each and every one of you. i completely support these reappointments, and i'm very excited for the work that you have ahead of you because i think that this is a brilliant commission that work together so well to constantly innovate. and it's definitely one of those go-to commissions for me when i have questions in this field. and the sophistication not only to understand sort of the urgency we have around developing more housing, and especially affordable housing with the necessity to maintain and protect our historic and cultural heritage in the city, and

it is a difficult mandate and task that you balance so well. so i want to thank the mayor for these reappointments and thank you all so much for your work. do any of my colleagues have any comments or questions? >> yeah. i just want to echo chair ronen's comments in really expressing really strong appreciation for all of the work that commissioners wolfrum, johns, and black have contributed to the historic pressiohistoric presern commission. i appreciate hearing all of the work that the commission has been doing, particularly around the cultural districts and the legacy program, and including our ethnic and cultural -- the rich history of ethnic and cultural history in your

work. thank you all for your dedication and your contributions to all of that. and i'm very pleased to support your reappointment. thank you. >> i just have a question for clarification? do we have to take these separately, or can we do them together? >> i believe if we make a motion to amend all three of these items, to delete the word "rejecting," and make a motion to recommend all three of them as a committee report to tomorrow's supervisors' meeting. >> i want to make a motion to delete the word "rejecting" and move all three recommendations forward with the positive recommendation. >> as a committee report. >> without objection, that motion passes. thank you so much, everyone. mr. clerk, can you please call item number four? >> item number four is a

renominating eric for the coastal commission. >> i feel fortunate and lucky that san francisco has a representative on the coastal commission, and one that has a very strong voice, protecting our precious resources, natural resources. so i'm very supportive of this reappointment. colleagues, any comments or a motion? oh, sorry. can i please open this item up for public comment. seeing none, the public comment is closed. do you want to make a motion? >> sure. i make a motion that we forward this nomination for supervisor peskin's reappointment to california coastal commission. >> this is not a committee report. >> without objection, that

motion passes. mr. clerk, can you please call item number five. >> item number five is a hearing to reappoint two people to the park recreation and open space advisor committee. there are two seats and two applicants. >> great. can we first here from rochene eisner. who i>> thank you. sorry. i get really nervous at podiums. i'm a third generation san franciscan, and as a teenager i participated in rec a park program called "midnight music." my friend and i got so much out of it. and i signed my kids up for programs, and tried to on many occasions. programs have never been available in my own community, and we've had to have very long

commutes, and sometimes very difficult ones to access. before the 2018 election, i knocked on doors in my district, and personally talked to a thousand votervoters in visitation valley, and i saw a frustration with the lack of programs. there are only seven programs available, and there are zero arts programs available in bay view and park valley. and in contrast, some offer 56 programs. but we have twice as many children at district 8, more than 16,000, compared to 8,000. district 10 has the largest under 18 population, and the highest percentage of our population is under 18, and that's almost 22%, compared to a city-wide average of 13%. the 2016 charter amendment aimed to address these issues, but the equity

matrix failed to appreciate the depth of these metrix. and vacancies have resulted in -- if i'm appointed to the committee, my goals would be advocate for increased equity in the areas with the largest population, such as children and seniors. and to advocate for updated metrix. and three, ensure adequate community outreach, and culturally competent instruction, and elimination of barriers. that's all. thank you so much. >> thank you so much. any questions or comments? >> definitely no questions. but i want to say this is actually an honor, my first appointment. ms. eisner, as you can see has done ,he research and

understands the inequities that exists-aroun exists arounde resources in our city, particularly in terms of activities for our young people. i'm just excited to have her wanting and being willing to serve because i know she is going to fight hard to make sure we fight hard to address those inequities that exist. thank you so much for stepping up in this manner. >> i also don't have any questions, but as someone who had a chance to work with you for many, many years, informer supervisor compost's office, i have been impressed by your brilliance and by your work ethic and by your dedication to fighting for equity in the city. it has been long-term and consistent. and i just want to congratulate supervisor walton for having one of the coolest first appointments that anyone could possibly have. so thank you so much,

christine, for all of your incredible work. >> thank you so much. >> thank you. next we'll hear from richard rotherman who is nominated by district 1 supervisor. >> supervisors, my name is richard rothman, and i'm here before you today to ask to be reappointed to park and open space advisory committee representing district 1. i'm a district 1 resident. i'm currently ending my term as first vice chair of the committee. and one of my goals on the committee is to make sure rec and park follows the equity measures improper "d," and that especially districts 10, 11, and 6 get the services that i think the rest of this city has. as a district 1 representative, two main issues: one is safe access to golden gate park, while

district 1 borders golden gate park, our residents feel it is not safe to walk across fulton street, so i've been working with supervisor severe's office and the planning department to try to make fulton street a safer street, so our residents can walk and bike to the park. the second issue i've been working on is rec and parks' main issues is rec and park, but also it has three buildings with wta murals in them. while two are opened to the public, the other building, the zoo, has been closed since 2000. and i've sort of taken on my mission to try to work with rec and park, the zoo, and the art commission to reopen these buildings, which has these beautiful murals in them. my photo shows the main library through the

15th, and they're on my web page, richardrothman.net. richardrothman.net.. >> i would be happy to answer any questions. >> any questions? thank you so much. is there any member of the public ho would like to speak? yes. >> my name is natalie gee, and i'm speaking on my personal support for the appointment. she is amazing, so... >> thank you so much. any other member of the public like to speak? seeing none, public comment is closed. i have a motion? >> i'd like to make a motion to move both names for -- i'm sorry, i want to, for c-14, move forward

a positive recommendation, richard rothman, and for seat 12, move forward with a positive recommendation, roshene eisner. >> great. without objection, that motion passes. are there any other items? >> that completes the agenda for today. >> thank you so much. the meeting is ad journalist. adjourned. - working for the city and county of san francisco will immerse you in a vibrant and dynamic city

that's on the forefront of economic growth, the arts, and social change. our city has always been on the edge of progress and innovation. after all, we're at the meeting of land and sea. - our city is famous for its iconic scenery, historic designs, and world-class style. it's the birthplace of blue jeans, and where "the rock" holds court over the largest natural harbor on the west coast. - our 28,000 city and county employees play an important role in making san francisco what it is today. - we provide residents and visitors with a wide array of services, such as improving city streets and parks, keeping communities safe, and driving buses and cable cars. - our employees enjoy competitive salaries, as well as generous benefits programs. but most importantly, working for the city and county of san francisco gives employees an opportunity to contribute their ideas, energy, and commitment to shape the city's future.

- thank you for considering a career with the city and county of san francisco. ♪ >> welcome to hamilton recreation and aquatics center. it is the only facility that has an integrated swimming pool and recreation center combined. we have to pools, the city's water slide, for little kids and those of you that are more daring and want to try the rockslide, we have a drop slide. >> exercises for everybody. hi have a great time. the ladies and guys that come,

it is for the community and we really make it fun. people think it is only for those that play basketball or swim. >> i have been coming to the pool for a long time now. it is nice, they are sweet. >> in the aquatics center, they are very committed to combining for people in san francisco. and also ensuring that they have public safety. >> there are a lot of different personalities that come through here and it makes it very exciting all the time. they, their family or teach their kids have a swim.

>> of the gem is fantastic, there is an incredible program going on there, both of my girls have learned to swim there. it is a fantastic place, check it out. it is an incredible indication of what bonn dollars can do with our hearts and facilities. it is as good as anything you will find out why mca. parents come from all over. >> there are not too many pools that are still around, and this is one-stop shopping for kids. you can bring your kid here and have a cool summer. >> if you want to see some of the youth and young men throughout san francisco play some great pickup games, come wednesday night for midnight

basketball. on saturdays, we have a senior lyons dance that has a great time getting exercise and a movement. we have all the music going, the generally have a good time. whether it is awkward camp or junior guard. >> from more information, visit francisco. >> my name is fwlend hope i would say on at large-scale what all passionate about is peace in the world.

>> it never outdoor 0 me that note everyone will think that is a good i know to be a paefrt. >> one man said i'll upsetting the order of universe i want to do since a good idea not the order of universe but his offered of the universe but the ministry sgan in the room chairing sha harry and grew to be 5 we wanted to preach and teach and act god's love 40 years later i retired having been in the tenderloin most of that 7, 8, 9 some have god drew

us into the someplace we became the network ministries for homeless women escaping prostitution if the months period before i performed memorial services store produced women that were murdered on the streets of san francisco so i went back to the board and said we say to do something the number one be a safe place for them to live while he worked on changing 4 months later we were given the building in january of 1998 we opened it as a safe house for women escaping prostitution i've seen those counselors women find their strength and their beauty and their wisdom and come to be able to affirmative as the daughters of god and they accepted me and made me, be a part of the their

lives. >> special things to the women that offered me a chance safe house will forever be a part of the who i've become and you made that possible life didn't get any better than that. >> who've would know this look of this girl grown up in atlanta will be working with produced women in san francisco part of the system that has abused and expedited and obtain identified and degraded women for century around the world and still do at the embody the spirits of women that just know they deserve respect and intend to get it. >> i don't want to just so women younger women become a

part of the the current system we need to change the system we don't need to go up the ladder we need to change the corporations we need more women like that and they're out there. >> we get have to get to help them. >> [♪] ♪ homelessness in san francisco is considered the number 1 issue by most people who live here, and it doesn't just affect neighbors without a home, it affects all of us. is real way to combat that is to work together. it will take city departments and nonprofit providers and volunteers and companies and community members all coming together. [♪]

>> the product homeless connect community day of service began about 15 years ago, and we have had 73 of them. what we do is we host and expo-style event, and we were the very force organization to do this but it worked so well that 250 other cities across the globe host their own. there's over 120 service providers at the event today, and they range anywhere from hygiene kits provided by the basics, 5% -- to prescription glasses and reading glasses, hearing tests, pet sitting, showers, medical services, flu shots, dental care, groceries, so many phenomenal service providers, and what makes it so unique is we ask that they provide that service today here it is an actual, tangible service people can leave with it. >> i am with the hearing and speech center of northern california, and we provide a variety of services including

audiology, counselling, outreach, education, today we actually just do screening to see if someone has hearing loss. to follow updates when they come into the speech center and we do a full diagnostic hearing test, and we start the process of taking an impression of their year, deciding on which hearing aid will work best for them. if they have a smart phone, we make sure we get a smart phone that can connect to it, so they can stream phone calls, or use it for any other services that they need. >> san francisco has phenomenal social services to support people at risk of becoming homeless, are already experience and homelessness, but it is confusing, and there is a lot of waste. bringing everyone into the same space not only saves an average of 20 hours a week in navigating the system and waiting in line for different areas, it helps them talk, so if you need to sign up for medi-cal, what you need identification, you don't have to go to sacramento or wait in line at a d.m.v., you go across the hall to the d.m.v. to get your i.d. ♪ today we will probably see

around 30 people, and averaging about 20 of this people coming to cs for follow-up service. >> for a participant to qualify for services, all they need to do is come to the event. we have a lot of people who are at risk of homelessness but not yet experiencing it, that today's event can ensure they stay house. many people coming to the event are here to receive one specific need such as signing up for medi-cal or learning about d.m.v. services, and then of course, most of the people who are tender people experiencing homelessness today. >> i am the representative for the volunteer central. we are the group that checks and all the volunteers that comment participate each day. on a typical day of service, we have anywhere between 40500 volunteers that we, back in, they get t-shirts, nametags, maps, and all the information they need to have a successful event. our participant escorts are a core part of our group, and they are the ones who help participants flow from the different service areas and help them find the different services

that they needs. >> one of the ways we work closely with the department of homelessness and supportive housing is by working with homeless outreach teams. they come here, and these are the people that help you get into navigation centers, help you get into short-term shelter, and talk about housing-1st policies. we also work very closely with the department of public health to provide a lot of our services. >> we have all types of things that volunteers deal do on a day of service. we have folks that help give out lunches in the café, we have folks who help with the check in, getting people when they arrive, making sure that they find the services that they need to, we have folks who help in the check out process, to make sure they get their food bag, bag of groceries, together hygiene kit, and whatever they need to. volunteers, i think of them as the secret sauce that just makes the whole process works smoothly. >> participants are encouraged

and welcomed to come with their pets. we do have a pet daycare, so if they want to have their pets stay in the daycare area while they navigate the event, they are welcome to do that, will we also understand some people are more comfortable having their pets with them. they can bring them into the event as well. we also typically offer veterinary services, and it can be a real detriment to coming into an event like this. we also have a bag check. you don't have to worry about your belongings getting lost, especially when that is all that you have with you. >> we get connected with people who knew they had hearing loss, but they didn't know they could get services to help them with their hearing loss picks and we are getting connected with each other to make sure they are getting supported. >> our next event will be in march, we don't yet have a date set. we typically sap set it six weeks out. the way to volunteer is to follow our newsletter, follow us on social media, or just visit our website. we always announce it right away, and you can register very easily online. >> a lot of people see folks experience a homelessness in the city, and they don't know how

they can help, and defence like this gives a whole bunch of people a lot of good opportunities to give back and be supported. [♪] >> growing up in san francisco has been way safer than growing up other places we we have that bubble, and it's still that bubble that it's okay to be whatever you want to. you can let your free flag fry he -- fly here. as an adult with autism, i'm

here to challenge people's idea of what autism is. my journey is not everyone's journey because every autistic child is different, but there's hope. my background has heavy roots in the bay area. i was born in san diego and adopted out to san francisco when i was about 17 years old. i bounced around a little bit here in high school, but i've always been here in the bay. we are an inclusive preschool, which means that we cater to emp. we don't turn anyone away. we take every child regardless of race, creed, religious or ability. the most common thing i hear in my adult life is oh, you don't

seem like you have autism. you seem so normal. yeah. that's 26 years of really, really, really hard work and i think thises that i still do. i was one of the first open adoptions for an lgbt couple. they split up when i was about four. one of them is partnered, and one of them is not, and then my biological mother, who is also a lesbian. very queer family. growing up in the 90's with a queer family was odd, i had the bubble to protect me, and here, i felt safe. i was bullied relatively infrequently. but i never really felt isolated or alone. i have known for virtually my entire life i was not suspended, but kindly asked to not ever bring it up again in first grade, my desire to have a sex change. the school that i went to

really had no idea how to handle one. one of my parents is a little bit gender nonconforming, so they know what it's about, but my parents wanted my life to be safe. when i have all the neurological issues to manage, that was just one more to add to it. i was a weird kid. i had my core group of, like, very tight, like, three friends. when we look at autism, we characterize it by, like, lack of eye contact, what i do now is when i'm looking away from the camera, it's for my own comfort. faces are confusing. it's a lack of mirror neurons in your brain working properly to allow you to experience empathy, to realize where somebody is coming from, or to realize that body language means that. at its core, autism is a social disorder, it's a neurological disorder that people are born

with, and it's a big, big spectrum. it wasn't until i was a teenager that i heard autism in relation to myself, and i rejected it. i was very loud, i took up a lot of space, and it was because mostly taking up space let everybody else know where i existed in the world. i didn't like to talk to people really, and then, when i did, i overshared. i was very difficult to be around. but the friends that i have are very close. i click with our atypical kiddos than other people do. in experience, i remember when i was five years old and not wanting people to touch me because it hurt. i remember throwing chairs because i could not regulate my own emotions, and it did not mean that i was a bad kid, it meant that i couldn't cope.

i grew up in a family of behavioral psychologists, and i got development cal -- developmental psychology from all sides. i recognize that my experience is just a very small picture of that, and not everybody's in a position to have a family that's as supportive, but there's also a community that's incredible helpful and wonderful and open and there for you in your moments of need. it was like two or three years of conversations before i was like you know what? i'm just going to do this, and i went out and got my prescription for hormones and started transitioning medically, even though i had already been living as a male. i have a two-year-old. the person who i'm now married to is my husband for about two years, and then started gaining weight and wasn't sure, so i we went and talked with the doctor

at my clinic, and he said well, testosterone is basically birth control, so there's no way you can be pregnant. i found out i was pregnant at 6.5 months. my whole mission is to kind of normalize adults like me. i think i've finally found my calling in early intervention, which is here, kind of what we do. i think the access to irrelevant care for parents is intentionally confusing. when i did the procespective search for autism for my own child, it was confusing. we have a place where children can be children, but it's very confusing. i always out myself as an adult with autism. i think it's helpful when you know where can your child go. how i'm choosing to help is to

give children that would normally not be allowed to have children in the same respect, kids that have three times as much work to do as their peers or kids who do odd things, like, beach therapy. how do -- speech therapy. how do you explain that to the rest of their class? i want that to be a normal experience. i was working on a certificate and kind of getting think early childhood credits brefore i started working here, and we did a section on transgender inclusion, inclusion, which is a big issue here in san francisco because we attract lots of queer families, and the teacher approached me and said i don't really feel comfortable or qualified to talk about this from, like, a cisgendered straight person's perspective, would you mind talking a little bit with your own experience, and i'm like absolutely. so i'm now one of the guest speakers in that particular

class at city college. i love growing up here. i love what san francisco represents. the idea of leaving has never occurred to me. but it's a place that i need to fight for to bring it back to what it used to be, to allow all of those little kids that come from really unsafe environments to move somewhere safe. what i've done with my life is work to make all of those situations better, to bring a little bit of light to all those kind of issues that we're still having, hoping to expand into a little bit more of a resource center, and this resource center would be more those new parents who have gotten that diagnosis, and we want to be this one centralized place that allows parents to breathe for a second. i would love to empower from the bottom up, from the kid level, and from the top down, from the teacher level. so many things that i would love to do that are all about changing people's minds about certain chunts, like the transgender community or the

autistic community. i would like my daughter to know there's no wrong way to go through life. everybody experiences pain and grief and sadness, and that all of those things are temporary. >> hello, i'm the deputy assistant manage and project manager for the control system bureau i consider any department as my extend family i know every member of my department the folks are that that talented and skilled and have their credentials since the people in the site are coming to before they're put in operation it's a good place to visit we share

information and support each other the water system is a program we got 26 national level with regards because of the dedication of any team the people are professional about their work but their folks they care about their community and the project i did this is a great organization with plenty of associations in you work hard and if you really do your job not only do you enjoy it but the sky is the limit we had a great job >> when i open up the paper every day, i'm just amazed at how many different environmental

issues keep popping up. when i think about what planet i want to leave for my children and other generations, i think about what kind of contribution i can make on a personal level to the environment. >> it was really easy to sign up for the program. i just went online to cleanpowersf.org, i signed up and then started getting pieces in the mail letting me know i was going switch over and poof it happened. now when i want to pay my bill, i go to pg&e and i don't see any difference in paying now. if you're a family on the budget, if you sign up for the regular green program, it's not going to change your bill at all. you can sign up online or call. you'll have the peace of mind knowing you're doing your part in your household to help the environment.

>> good morning, please welcome san francisco gay men's chorus, performing "singing for our love ." [♪] ♪ we are peaceful loving people ♪ ♪ and we are singing,, singing for our love ♪ ♪ we are young and old together ♪ ♪ and we are singing, singing for our love ♪