>> and good afternoon. this is the june 1, 2021 meeting of the san francisco health commission. president bernal can't be with us today, so i have the privilege of chairing the meeting, and we'll start by asking secretaimore morwitz to call the roll. >> commissioner green. >> present. >> commissioner chow. >> present. >> commissioner guillermo. >> present. >> well, the next agenda item is approval of the minutes of the health commission meeting of may

18, 2021. we've all had the opportunity to review the minutes, and i would ask if there are any corrections or addition to the minutes. >> i move approval. >> okay, hearing none, i guess are there any public comments on the minutes? >> folks on the line, if you'd like to make comment on item 2, which is the approval of the may 18, 2021 minutes, please press *3 to raise your hand. i don't see any hands, commissioners. >> i second that motion. >> and a second? let's do a roll call. >> commissioner giraudo. >> yes. >> commissioner guillermo. >> yes. >> commissioner chow. >> yes. >> and commissioner green? >> yes. >> the item passes. thank you. >> great. the next agenda item is director's report. director colfax? >> good afternoon, grant colfax, director of health.

just a few updates to call out from the director's report. there are a lot of covid updates there, but i did want to highlight a few other items here, very excited that on may 18 our new hummingbird center at 1156 valencia opens. that will provide much-needed place for people experiencing the combination of homelessness and behavioral health issues, a place for them to stay and get rested. and at this time we're able to -- excuse me, i'm having a little i.t. issue here. it will add 30 beds for overnight clients and up to 20 daytime drop-in clients at a time. so it's a collaboration among the san francisco department of health, baker place salvation army and.

was able to get into play, so we're providing care for people right now in that location. so really, really good news there. the other piece of information i wanted to highlight was the epic go live has entered its next phase, and on may 24 we welcomed new teams to our shared epic platform. that includes the dph outpatient pharmacies, including laguna honda and behavioral-based community services which has switched to epic. our public health health division t.b. clinic colleagues are able to place e-consult orders and the transition's care coordination team has begun using epic to receive and complete requests for bed placement assistance. so really good news there, further integration of our information system of care so that people can see the big picture when they are seeing

clients. and we have go live dates are being established for later in 2021 for city clinics, adult immunization travel clinics occupational health and jail health services. so continuing to make great progress on that epic cph list, and i want to thank the epic team and the clinics and the pharmacies for their continued commitment to ensuring the sustained success of this project. that's my report. happy to take any additional questions. thank you. >> thank you. is there any comment on the public comment line? >> folks on the line, please press *3 if you'd like to make comment on the director's report, which is item 3 of this agenda, *3. i see one hand, commissioners. person on the line -- actually i'm going to read a statement before i unmute you. for each agenda item, members of the public will have an opportunity to make comment for up to two minutes. the public comment process is designed to invite input and

feedback from individuals in the community. however, the process does not allow questions to be answered in the meeting or for members of the public to engage in back and forth conversation with the commissioners. the commissioners do consider comments from members of the public when discussing the items and making requests of dph. please note that each individual is allowed one opportunity to speak per agenda item. individuals may not return more than once to read statements from other individuals unable to attend the meeting. written public comment may be sent to the health commission at the following email address. mark.morewitz@sfg.org. you have two minutes. >> hello, i own 12 businesses directly across the street from the drug sobering center that is being proposed, and there's a number of us neighbors -- >> i'm going to stop you, sir.

this item is -- this is about the director's report, not about the drug sobering center. >> all right. >> are you calling about the director's report? >> nope. >> all right, thanks. anybody else have comment about the director's report, item 3? okay, commissioners, no comments. >> and any questions or comments from the commissioners? okay. i should look at -- do you see any, mark? i have to get my participants up. we will go on to the covid-19 update. director colfax? >> thank you, commissioner green, and i will give a very brief update given our long agenda today, and commissioner green, happy -- and other commissioners, i'm happy to provide any more detail. i will not be giving a slide presentation today, but just to emphasize that right now with regard to covid-19 we are in a good place. in fact, our case rate is the lowest it's been since the very beginning of the pandemic. we're at 1.59 per 100,000 case

rate, and again, i'll remind ourselves that in december we hit a peak of 46 per 100,000. we're now at 1.59. just some other key numbers, we're at a total of 36,709 covid-19 diagnosed cases. unfortunately we've had 546 people in san francisco die of covid-19, and our condolences to their loved ones, their family and their communities. another positive note, however, right now across our nine city hospitals we have just 11 people hospitalized with covid-19, again compared to the peak of 259. and of those, six are in the intensive care units. in terms of our hospital capacity, that remains very robust, and our testing numbers continue to drop a bit. we're now at an average of between 3500 and 4,000 tests

being done a day in the city. our vaccine rollout continues, and we continue to lead, certainly compared to the rest of the state and the nation. right now of all san francisco residents, not just eligible residents, 70% have received at least one dose. of eligible residents, 78% have received at least one dose of vaccine. among people over 65 we're at 89%. and two thirds of the eligible population has now received a complete vaccination series. so making good progress there. we still are working to get those rates that continue to go up. our mass sites are starting to close. we'll be closing relatively soon because of decreased amounts of those mass sites, and we will be continuing to shift our focus to the clinics, the neighborhood

access sites and the mobile teams and the clinics with regard to vaccine. in fact, this past weekend i was at the our 90kiska site which is a neighborhood access site. it was more than just about vaccine. it was about food. it was about providing people with services, some entertainment. it was a great event, and then at carnevale on saturday, over the weekend, we were also able to provide vaccine and i think have important conversations about vaccines, and we increasingly realize that according to the data and according to the community, community leaders, multiple conversations where people who are vaccine hesitant is going to be really keen to getting people to hopefully accept these -- this life-saving intervention. so continuing to make progress there. things have slowed down significantly, so we're really pleased with our metrics.

we are going to continue to ensure that we're doing everything we can to make sure that people have ready access, low-barrier access to vaccines when they need it. the drop-in approach, the community-based approach, the clinic approach is going to be our way forward. that completes my report. i'm happy to take any questions. >> thank you so much. is there any public comment on the item? >> hi, folks on the line. we're talking about item 4, the covid-19 update. if you have comment about this item, again about covid-19, the update, please press *3. no hands, commissioners. >> great, and what about commissioner comments? i don't see any here. do you, mark? >> i do not. >> okay, this continues to be wonderful news, and really something to celebrate, and the remarkable effort of the mayor's office and everyone at the d.p.h. staff, the health workers throughout our city and the population of san francisco. i mean, we're really exemplary,

for the country, for the world, and it's really a testament to everyone's great efforts of where we are today, and very appreciative of this and the fact that we're developing further strategies so we can hopefully vaccinate the highest percentage of population in the world, which is really wonderful. >> commissioner, can i just add one just to remind the commission, june 15 is the date where state will lift most restrictions with regard to covid-19. we're following that carefully. our drelt officer dr. susan philip with the city attorney is reviewing those guidelines right now. we expect we will mostly align with those state guidelines. we're looking at a few areas, particularly with large indoor events, to better understand what the state will require, what we may require, and then calocea issued employer guidelines on friday, and we're reviewing those with regard to ensuring that we're informing

employers what those guidelines are, getting them to be ready to be prepared for that june 15 reopening. but compared to just about every other county in california, i think we're in relatively very good shape for that june 15 date. >> excellent. we meet again on june 15, so hopefully we can get a further update from you then. thank you so much. so the next agenda item is the fiscal year 21-22/22-23 budget update, and our chief financial officer, jen louie, will be presenting. >> and commissioners, i don't see jen on the list. mr. wagner, i'm wondering if you're able to help with the presentation. i have the presentation loaded up. since jen's not here, i'm not sure what to do. can you advise us? are you there? >> yeah, sorry. can you hear me? >> yes. is it okay if you go through -- i'm not sure what's going on with jen. >> yes, i will take a shot.

the quality won't be as high as you would have gotten from jen, but i will do my best. are you able to pull it up, mark? >> give us one second.

>> just give me a second, please. >> thank you so much for being flexible in helping out.

>> all right, thank you. sorry about that. i'm not sure -- i tried to text also, but wasn't prepared with the presentation available. thank you. so we'll go briefly through today is june 1, which is mayor's budget day, and city government so under the city charter the mayor is required to propose a balanced budget every june 1, and she did so today. next slide, please. so lots of exciting and good news for the department of public health and the mayor's budget. number one, the budget does include the [indiscernible] that we brought before the health

commission over the course of the spring, so those are all included. and then in addition, as we had kind of previewed before you, don't have the details to present, there are some additional initiatives that have been included in the mayor's budget since the last commission hearing and the budget announcement today. and those are really closely aligned with all of our strategic priorities and none are a surprise. there are some additional funding for community effort around the covid budget, which was still in development when we talked -- i talked to you a few weeks ago about that, the department's covid-19 budget. so we knew this was coming, but there is some additional funding. there is the proposal for how to use the -- business tax revenues for behavioral health initiative.

this is our proposed package for addressing mental health sf. and there is another initiative that would transfer the local emergency management services agency back to d.e.m. we'll talk briefly about that. next slide, please. so our annual budget is proposed for fiscal year 21-22, $2.8 billion. that's year-over-year growth of about 45.6 million dollars and some changes from what was previously adopted in year two last year. there's really a lot moving underneath that $45.6 million. so some big changes that have been coming in and out of the budget over the last two years. as you know, we've had large sums appropriated for the covid-19 response, and those are appropriated one year at a time, so there were dollars

appropriated last year, dollars that are appropriated this year. we've had large appropriations for one-time funding under prop c that is related to acquisition, physical sites for the mental health sf program, and then there's also a lot moving in terms of balances that are carrying forward over the two years of the budget from the current year. and so that 45.6 million is the change you'll see in the mayor's proposed budget, but there's really a lot that is happened under there. next slide, please. so on covid-19, there's 124 million proposed in the first year, and a smaller amount proposed in the second year, $27 million, the sources for that are 32 million and the various grants under the stimulus packaged passed by the federal

congress. 70 million of that is funded with the balance currently appropriated for the covid-19 project and an additional 21 million. 124 million total for the current year, and it all aligns with what we discussed at the health commission a few weeks ago. the mayor's budget over and above what we had previously proposed includes 3 million for health services in the shelter-in-place hotels, so that's an adjustment based on the schedule for the sites, and 22.4 million for community-based programs related to the covid-19 response and recovery. that includes vaccine outreach. it includes some behavioral health programming. all the community partnership efforts that we have been working to develop in the current year and spending those

in each year coming. next slide, please. so here's a summary of covid funding. i won't go into the details on this, but a summary of the covid funding by area you can see how it breaks down some of the big areas for vaccination. there are strategies for moving the covid-19 operations, large parts of them back into the department of public health, returning p.s.w.s who have been assigned to covid back to their pre-existing roles, and so this plan really represents in the budget the plan that the city and the department have been working on for a transition to quote unquote normal for a covid sustained response and recovery.

next slide, please. 384 million of the proposed spending total over two years, that's in addition to the d.p.h. portion of the budget. there is funding for some of the mass vax sites that are under review now, although a lot of that activity is projected to wind down. there's funding for food security, for workforce programs, small businesses. all of these economic relief programs that the city has been working on to mitigate the impact to people, to small businesses that have been affected by covid and trying to get the residents of the city and the economy back on its feet. those are largely outside of the department of public health

[indiscernible]. a lot of this is funded by fema revenue, a good portion is funded by fema revenue that continues to come in, and stimulus dollars congressional approval. this is really our mental health sf initiative. as you will recall, from the prior budget there was about 51 -- 50.1 million of proposition funds approved in last year's budget for the first phase of mental health sf. in the intervening months the city was successful in a lawsuit over proposition c which made available additional funds that had been collected but not previously available to spend, and because of that the mayor's budget has another $42.2 million in behavioral health funding,

bringing the total to $93.1 million of annual spending proposed earlier in the budget. and you'll recall when mental health sf was adopted, there was an estimated target of $100 million or more to really get this big program in place, and you can see that we are making a big, big dent in that target and really receiving the proposed funding that would allow us to accelerate and really [indiscernible] moving forward, so really exciting and grateful for that. in addition, there's $122 million of proposition c funds. those are funds that were collected in the past and are available and one-time funds with a primary purpose of these available for site acquisitions. this will allow us to have

physical space to have the programs of mental health sf when it comes. next slide, please. behavioral health, this is a little bit more detail on the investments that are underneath that funds that i showed you on the previous page. so you can see where some of these categories are. there's additional bed capacity, so this would be behavioral health beds that we're expanding. this is our street crisis response teams. it's street medicine expansion. there is significant amount of funding for overdose response, so that's our street overdose response teams, continuing management of medication-assignment treatment expansion up to 38.8 million overdose program which is a big component of that. and then there's funding for

services in our supportive housing sites. many of those sites are going to be expanded on the shs side as they increase housing, and this is funding for the department of public health to provide those services and supportive housing. next slide, please. other behavioral health investments that have been part of the mayor's budget is additional capacity for the conservatorship of programs, half a million dollars. 1.3 million dollars related to mental health services. next slide, please. and then another item within the mayor's budget is the transfer of the local emergency management services agency. those who have been on the commission for some time will

recall the -- has moved back and forth twice between d.p.h. and d.v.m. there's a determination in the mayor's budget to propose, to transfer that function back to deputy of emergency management that is mostly aligned with the emergency response capabilities. and with that it would be essentially taking the budget as it is and moving it back under the emergency management, and also moving the 2.5 million of expenditures. it's not a change in the service level for the agency. it's really a change in structure. next slide, please. so just a summary of some of the major expenditure categories and how they are going to show up in the budget, again, $123.6

million for the covid-19 response with some anticipated ongoing spending into the next year. $93 million behavioral health services, which includes previously appropriated prop c dollars and the additional mayor's budget. one-time dollars for site acquisition, a total of over $120 million, and then other changes, including funding of our -- of previously presented initiatives that the health commission [indiscernible]. so again, to kind of sum it up, i think a lot of good news in the proposed mayor's budget, and a lot of it that aligns very closely with all the work that we've been doing over the past year, two years in our strategic initiatives. there is a lot for us to be grateful for and a lot for us to do over the coming year.

so i'll leave it at that and happy to answer questions. >> thank you so much, mr. wagner, for doing such a wonderful and extensive job as a pinch hitter. a lot of detail and greatly appreciated. is there any public comment on this item, secretary morewitz? >> thank you, commissioner. i just want to first note that i've gotten many texts from ms. louie. she's been trying to get on, and there are several people who have been invited who can't get in the meeting, so there's a technological issue, so she apology apologizes and i apologize on behalf of them as well. i don't have the technical expertise to offer them. folks on the line, if you want to make comment on the budget update. it's the budget update. we're not at the drug sobering center yet. please press *3. okay. we've got one hand, commissioners. all right, i'm going to read a

statement again. for each agenda item, members of the public will have an opportunity to make comment for up to two minutes. the public comment process is designed to invite input and feedback from individuals in the community. however, the process does not allow questions to be answered in the meeting or for members of the public to engage in back and forth conversation with the commissioners. the commissioners do consider comments from members of the public when discussing an item and making requests to d.p.h. please note that each individual is allowed one opportunity to speak per agenda item. individuals may not return more than once to read statements from other individuals unable to attend the meeting. all right, mr. count, i am going to unmute you. you'll have two minutes on the clock. when the buzzer buzzes, please know that's the time to finish your sentence. >> first of all, thank you for your great work, and my apologies, i don't have a comment. i had a question, so i won't proceed. >> great. thank you. any other -- thanks. any other hands? *3 if you'd like to make

comment. no other hands, commissioners. >> great. well, i see from the commissioners, commissioner chow has a question or comment. >> thank you. first my comment is also to thank mr. wagner and the finance department for the extraordinary work that they do in presenting, and i'm hoping we would have a chance to look at those slides a little later to understand the full impact of this, and it's great that it looks like a great funding is coming in for mental health. i also -- not today, but i would like to understand, there's no right or wrong answer upon where the emergency management goes, but how that would affect us in terms of what we might be able to do in terms of the oversight on the emergency services and

the ambulance services. so again, that's a topic for a different day, but would like that to be remembered and the commission to take that up. >> thank you. we'll be sure to provide you this document and other details as we have a little bit more time to digest and refine. >> thank you. any other questions or comments on this item? >> commissioners, i would just like to offer that ms. louie was just moved into the meeting. she appeared out of nowhere, so i would like to give her the opportunity to at least say hi and again i apologize for the technical issues. >> commissioners, my regret for the technical difficulties. the good news is that mr. wagner has retained all of the briefings and [indiscernible] role. he really covered it, and i think sort of to really emphasize again it's a very positive budget. there was sort of despite, you

know, the fact that [indiscernible] it appears that there's only a $45 million difference, the mayor's office did make significant investment in [indiscernible] budgets in areas [indiscernible] in security and racial equity plan. i believe that they are really all focused [indiscernible] behavioral health is an equity issue, and we feel like the mayor's office really moved forward and put that in her budget. and i'm sure that there's a lot of material within the mayor's press information, and i am happy to [indiscernible] further questions you may have given that the materials just came out this afternoon. >> okay. i think we missed a little bit

of that, at least i did, but thank you very much, and i think we picked up the part about how our equity work is a significant portion and consideration in all these budget items. are there other questions or comments now that ms. louie's had a chance to speak? seeing none, i -- >> grant colfax here. if i can just thank the team. and i had the pleasure of attending the mayor's budget speech earlier today, and many of the priorities outlined here and invested in were mentioned, and again, this has been -- every budget year is tough, and this one was full of lots of unknowns until the last minute, lots of different dynamics, lots of different funding streams and lots of changes, and just want to thank jenny and her team and the mayor's office, and very much appreciate the support of the commission. this budget does reflect our priorities, and i think it has some really great new innovative projects that we can continue to

move forward. so thank you. >> and thank you. and a lot more positive than i think we thought if we looked at this six months ago and really great work from everyone, so thank you so much. so i guess we'll move on to the next agenda item, which is general public comment. >> and folks, i'll read a statement before we move on to see if there are hands. within the subject matter of jurisdiction of the commission but are not on this meeting agenda. the brown act forbids the commission from taking action or discussing any item not appearing on the posted agenda, including those raised during public comments. please note that each individual is allowed one opportunity to speak per agenda item. individuals may not return more than once to read statements from other individuals unable to attend the meeting. and you can always submit written public comment to me here and i can forward it to the commission. i'll be happy to do that. all right, so if you'd like to

make general public comment, please press *3. i see one hand. i will -- oh, actually, i see no hands. commissioners, it looks like there's no hands at this time. >> all right. well, in that case we will go to the next item for discussion, which is the finance and planning committee update items commissioner chow? >> yes, thank you. i had the privilege of chairing the meeting in the absence of commissioner chung and also welcoming commissioner guillermo to the committee who did a marvellous job. so the monthly contracts report were short and is a renewal of the catholic charities contract for h.i.v.-assisted housing.

this was an r.f.p. they won the r.f.p. and the amount of 1.090 million is the same amount as the previous contract, and they were waiting previously on their evaluation was positive, except that they needed to develop a client satisfaction survey, which they will be doing. there were two new contracts that are reviewed by the committee and will be brought to you for your approval. one is with the a.m.a. health services which is really a private project, a two-year pilot project which allows for rehabilitative for and care residential services that we do not have in san francisco at this time available to us. and although the site is

currently in the east bay, a.m.a. health services has actually bought a site on chatwell in san francisco, is remodelling that and this pilot would then take place here composing approximately 20 beds. this is a service that we don't have now and which staff felt that would be an important project to see how well it would work within a residential and care setting, which is then destined to then move on to independent living which this company also has. the second contract we reviewed was that of the san francisco community health authority, also sometimes nobody as the san francisco health plan. and this was for a retroactive contract that began july 1, 2020 under an emergency declaration from the mayor, her 17

supplement on that declaration to have an amount of 14,903,500 dollars be offered to the employees of our health service systems that would then be eligible for a $500 grant per year. that grant actually has been taken up or distributed to 29,000 -- these are not city employees. these are employees who belong to the program, and all 500 -- all 29,807 people have already claimed and have had the $500 grant distributed, that was the emergency order from the mayor. so this is simply then a

reimbursing san francisco community health authority for having administered the distribution of this money. there's no additional administrative costs. it's under their other contract. there were two other subjects taken up with the san francisco department of health annual report review for 2019-2020 draft, and that will be presented with our comments also in consideration at our forthcoming board meeting. commission meeting. we then also reviewed a proposal for simplification of the san francisco city option program. this option program also our health care security ordinance that assists us in having a

nearly universal health insurance for all residents, and this will be presented also at the next meeting, so with that, i am available to answer any questions that commissioners may have before we then ask for your consideration in the next item. >> thank you. thank you, dr. chow. is there any public comment on this item? >> folks on the line, if you'd like to make comment on item 8, which is the consent calendar, please press *3. i do not see any hands, commissioners. oh, i'm sorry, i just saw a hand pop up. all right, person on the line, i'm going to put two minutes on the clock. please let us know if you're there. >> i am the medical director and

principal investigator of the hunter's point community bio-monitoring program. we've been operational since january of 2019, and to date we've identified multiple residents and workers under the one-mile -- >> i'm muting you right now just because your comment doesn't relate to the item. it seems like you did not raise your hand during general public comment. you could raise your hand during other business and make a comment, but this public comment period is only right now for the consent calendar, which is item 8, and i apologize. i need to make rigid on the rules because there's so many people in here today. so unless you have comment today on item 8, the consent calendar, i think the commissioners can move forward with comments and a vote. commissioners? >> all right. does any -- would anyone like to extract any of the items that are action items on our consent calendar? are there any commissioner

comments or questions? okay, barring none, we would entertain a motion to approve the two items on the june 2021 contracts report. i guess we should do a roll call vote. >> there actually are three items, madam chair. >> is the third held for item 10? >> no, commissioners, there's a contracts report and then two new contract requests. >> oh, we have to approve the report as well and the two requests. absolutely. the three items then. >> yes, and if there could be a motion and a second before i go to vote, that would be -- >> i so request approval. >> is there a second? i'll second. >> thank you. very good. i'll start with you, commissioner green.

>> yes. >> commissioner giraudo. >> yes. >> commissioner guillermo. >> yes. >> and commissioner chow. >> yes. >> all right, the item passes. thank you very much. >> all right. so the next item is the proposed programming view of the summa rise center. as part of the department's good neighbor policy, the health commissioner is holding this hearing regarding the proposed location of the new drug sobering center and of the next agenda item, to consider an approval action for the services associated with the center. so prior to today, representatives of the mayor's office, the department of public health and health rate 360 participated in two community meetings that were held in april allowing the public to voice their comments and concerns followed by another community response meeting that was held a month later. the commissioners have had a chance to review an excellent summary of the public comments

and all three meetings that was written by michelle rugles, and we're very grateful to you for this document that really gives us a sense for what was said and the concerns that have been voiced so far. now the board of supervisors will vote on the lease associated with this program at the government and oversight subcommittee on june 8. so today i'd like to introduce three individuals, the health policy advisor to the mayor. she'll make comments about the project. michelle wrugles, who is the director of the d.p.h. business office will discuss the d.p.h. good neighbor policy, and then david pating will present the item. we'll start by inviting ms. rama to outline her thoughts an observations. >> thank you so much, chair. thank you for having me here, to all the commissioners. the summa rise center is not only a component of the mental

health sf legislation but also a priority for the mayor as you say have heard today in her budget speech the city will use every tool we have to assist people struggling with addiction to get into treatment and services indoors. this is one of those tools to get people into care off the streets. this is not a safe consumption site. this is exactly what the name of the center is intending to do, to provide an indoor space where people can recover off the street and where staff can initiate support and engagement towards treatment. i've been a part of this process, and what i've observed is that utilizing community input from the public meetings in april as well as the follow-up meeting, and additionally community walkabouts, presentations, individual meetings. both the department of public

health and the proposed contractor, health rate 360, have been nimble and responsive. as you will hear, the department of public health has added additional measures to increase outreach to those who would be appropriate for this service in the neighborhood and discourage loitering outside near the center. the department has secured transportation, determined destinations for those who are exiting the center, designated smoking areas so as not to disrupt or affect the neighbors, and most importantly the center will contribute to the revitalization of an uninhabited building. department of public health will share this, but there's space for second store offices and they will have staff that will come in daily frequenting thaibd businesses. i think -- neighborhood

businesses. i think there is mutual interest in making this center safe for the community and making sure that the thoroughfares are kept clean of medical waste which is a current challenge in the neighborhood. once again i'm here. i want to say that this pilot is an important intervention in minimizing the disturbances in the neighborhood that already persist, and also provide services indoor for residents who have real health challenges so that they are off the street and engaged into our system of care, whether that be housing or long-term treatment. so thank you again for having me here. this is, again, a priority for the mayor and appreciate the work that the team has done for this project. >> thank you so much.

really appreciate your perspective. >> thank you, commissioners. i received a d.p.h. business office contract of compliance, and that is the entity within d.p.h. that's responsible for the logistics of making sure that we meet the requirements, and so on that note, even though my name is on this memo, i really want to thank tom mesa who is the director of business office of contract compliance and andy garcia who helped do all -- helped us to make sure we met the requirements. so just really briefly, i think you know what the good neighbor policy is and the department's intention as part of the legislation we have two main retirements, which is holding two mandatory meetings within the community with today's meeting being the second mandatory meeting, which is to provide the opportunity for the

health commission to hear neighborhood concerns, and then as was also noted we provided additional optional meetings, and so we met the -- we've met the meeting requirement. and the other part of the legislation is posting requirements, and so that means signage needs to be posted at the site, which we did. the other -- which we did in multiple languages, and for each of the meetings. and then the other -- if you don't post signage, you can also do a mailing, and the department opted to do a mailing as well, and so all the residents as well as property owners who may not be residents but own the property within 300 feet of the project site received mailing about this meeting as well as some project information, an we

also posted information about how to access the meeting. so i just wanted to let you know that in terms of meeting the legislated requirement that we have, and so from that i would just turn it back over to probably the media part and the more interesting part and helpful part of this meeting, which is about the project itself. that's all i have, thank you. >> thank you, and thanks to your team as well. this was a tremendous effort. all right, so we'll go to the meat of the presentation, and i think we have a powerpoint. >> yes, and i put it up. there we go. >> can you hear me, mark? >> yes. >> oh, okay welcome, everybody. thank you very much for inviting me. i'm david pating, a psychiatrist

on the department of public health's team and the project lead for the drug sobering center, now to be called soma rise center. you've heard our prop i introduction. next slide, please. there you go. i want to give you a quick background on the drug sobering center. it was approved as part of mental health san francisco legislation in december 2019 by the board of supervisors, and then the mayor signed it very shortly after. you have heard many presentations on mental health san francisco, which is, again, a comprehensive plan to address the impact of mental health and substance use on our streets among the 4,000 homeless and many more that are experiencing homelessness on the street. so as part of that, there was a mandate to create a trauma-informed sobering site with integrated harm reduction

services for individuals under the influence of methamphetamine, and this came out of the methamphetamine task force which had just concluded in october and november, and so that's what we're here to talk about, this development of the act or contract with health right 360. before i do that, i want to give you a little bit of background. while the ordinance says that it's supposed to address those under the influence of methamphetamine -- next slide, please -- we want to make sure that you're aware of the context, that we're really in a dual or multi-drug pandemic or epidemic at this point. the yellow line here that you're looking at is the rise in overdose deaths in the 2020 covid year related to methamphetamines. the blue line is rising higher, and this is the rise of fentanyl-related overdose with

them both at all together the line totalling up to 700. so we are in a very complicated drug situation now coming out of covid with two drugs, and it's no longer just methamphetamine. if i was to draw this diagram again, i would twist the line between the yellow and the blue. they are actually very intricately related with many methamphetamine users using fentanyl, or the majority of methamphetamine users, and many fentanyl users using methamphetamine. so this is the situation we need to address, and it's why we're calling it a drug sobering as opposed to a methamphetamine sobering center. next slide, please. we're hoping to place this center in the soma and tenderloin area, and we keep getting asked this by the community, why here, why the soma district. on the left side you're looking at a heat map of overdoses. this is actually 2016, but it's

very similar to the 2020 overdose map that you have seen in the previous slide. and you see here that the hot spot in san francisco is the soma and tenderloin neighborhoods. of those, 700 passed last year. 41% of them lived in the soma and tenderloin area and 39% of the overdoses last year occurred in the soma and tenderloin areas. this is the area that we believe that we need to be, and it's the area of greatest intensity for overdoses, for drugs and drug use, and with that drug-related consequences, namely also things on the street, mental health crises, and the like, that is the goal of mental health assistance. so dr. chow asked that we put a map of where this is going to be. the soma rise center will be at

1076 howard street. i know this print is very small, but what you'll see here is on the north side is -- and mission street, and on the south side, way down at the bottom, is fulsome. on the right side is 6 street and on the left it's 7 street with a smaller housing street, ross street, in the middle. just three blocks away from this is our 1380 behavioral health services, two blocks away is the urgent care center. another block away is a new soon tober wellness center. there's a lot of services in the area, and to we -- the services are there because that's where they're needed. when we look at, for example, 911 calls in this area, and we looked at this by census tracts, this area has three to five times more 911 calls for assault and drug use than the city, and

seven times more 311 calls for encampment, and ten times the number of calls per the city average for medical waste. so we feel that this center is not only needed, but it actually is going to be a solution. we need to bring these problems indoors rather than people having medical and mental health crises outdoors on the street. so this is what the building looks like at 1076 howard. it is a in newly remodelled -- it's a newly remodelled office building that will have two stories. the bottom is for the drug sobering center, and you can see on the right newly remodelled space, and this will be further divided into three different spaces: an active space, a quiet space and a sleeping space. above, on the second floor, will be department of public health offices. so we actually see this space as being rather activated in what

was once a lifeless office that needed to be remodelled is now remodelled, will have people going to and fro with lunch and entering services at the drug sobering center. next slide, please. so this is how the drug sobering center would work. in partnership with health right 360, who you'll be hearing from in just a minute, will be running our service contract, what we imagine is this is captain brandon chatham of ems #. he sees somebody on the sidewalk lying down, and perhaps is nodding out from using heroin or fentanyl, and so he gently wakes them up and says, you know, hey, fella, this is not the place to be nodding out. why don't you stand up with me and i can walk you over or we'll put you in our ems 6 van and we'll bring you to the sobering center around the corner. that's what we're hoping will happen, and it could be this gentleman or it could be someone that is having a little more

agitation or hearing voices between the e.m.s. 6, crisis, medicine, homeless outreach team. these are all the ways that we hope people will come to the soma rise center, find a safe place to settle in, get some food, get a shower, lie down and sleep if they need to, and leave better off. we think, again, it's better to have a crisis on the inside than, again, having crisis and being a victim on the outside. next slide, please. so then people keep asking us, well, that's a good idea, but how are you going to know this works? and i would like to let you know this is an #-month pilot dr 18-month pilot, an at the 18 months we'll begin to look and see whether we've received what we want to achieve. what we want to achieve is this. it's what i call the four ss of success. we want to make sure there's good satisfaction.

if the clients aren't satisfied with this program, they won't come back, and if they don't come back they won't take advantage of the services, so we want the services to be linked to the satisfaction, and we'll be tracking the services people receive. did they take showers? did they use the harm reduction supplies? did they accept referrals and transportation to our next steps? these will be all the services that we are hoping to track. and then we also want to make sure it's safe. one of my mottos for this program is there can be no deaths. we do not want any deaths in this program, even though we're experiencing a crisis in fentanyl overdoses, and we may have people that come in and have just taken fentanyl, we want to make sure that we're watching for overdoses at every moment, and we want to make sure that critical incidents and injuries are tracked because this has to be a program that's not only welcoming but also safe. and then lastly we are tied to

the act of mental health san francisco which has its own measures, like reducing hospitalizations, reducing referrals to jail, and for us it would probably be diversions from the psychiatric emergency services. so then again, our goal is to improve the lives of the participants in our community that are intoxicated and those that are living in the soma area. next slide, please. we have been getting lots of doubts from the community. the community understands the concept. people say that they like the idea, they feel that they need something like this, but just not in my neighborhood. so we've tried many times to meet with the community. we've had one prop i meeting, and we had 50 people, and we had a second prop i meeting which we had another 50 people, and after that we said, you know, we really need to come up with some concerted answers to the community because they deserve a response. why the soma? well, what are we going to do

and how are we going to make sure that the citizens' concerns are addressed. so we put our minds together for the next two or three weeks and we held a third community response meeting with a specific plan to address the concerns, and then now we're here with you at the health commission. our plan and our intent is to partner with the community at every point along the way. this is a partnership between the department of public health and health right 360 and the soma neighborhood, because only then can we make sure that we are able to do the outreach and hear about the feedback that we need to hear. so let me share with you, and i'll conclude with these two items and then turn it over to health right 360. the three or four areas that we had greatest concerns about, one was does this program -- or next slide, please. does this program serve people in the neighborhood? basically the concern here is

will they come from all over town and you'll be parking them in the soma district where we live? or is this going to be a soma intervention. the second question was: do clients have a place to go after they leave the program? in other words, if they walk out, are they going to linger in my doorway and use drugs? the third is: how will you keep the streets safe and clean? the context here is my neighborhood has a lot of needles already and you're already going to add more to them. and the fourth is: how are you going to know this program is a success? how will it help? how does it help the clients and then how will it eventually help us? next slide, please. so let me share with you our detailed plans, and they are actually more complicated than i was able to list here on the slide, but i'd like you to think about it as a series of graded interventions with each of the questions. so for the question number one: will they come from all over the

city? or from the soma neighborhood? so the first is that clients will walk in. this is a walk-in program, and people can walk in, and we think they're going to walk in mostly from the soma and tenderloin, but if they do walk in from the mission or the bayview, we're not going to turn them away. it is a walk-in program. the second is that it is also going to accept referrals only from the soma and the tenderloin. so we've spoken with the street crisis response teams, we've spoken with the emergency medical services, the fire department. we've outreached to the street medicine team and the hot teams. these will be the prioritized teams for the soma and tenderloin neighborhoods that will bring people in. the third is in the local area we'll be coordinating and working with ambassadors that will hope to be contracting with, and these ambassadors will do outreach within the immediate area around the clinic so that

we'll be bringing people, again, who are walking in, by car from the soma, and by warm handoffs from the ambassadors. this is a soma/tenderloin intervention and will have a zone of particular outreach around the facility in the local neighborhood. the second question we got is: well, what are you going to do -- that's fine when they get there. what are you going to do when they leave? so here again, graded intervention. one is this program is designed to accept people in bad shape and making sure that when they leave they are better off than when they came in. that's what we're designed to do. if we're not doing that, then we're not doing our job. everything will be oriented to make sure that people are better off than when they leave. then when they decide to leave, we worked out a strategy to make

sure that they have next step destinations. we have a list of about 20 or 30 destinations in the mission and the tenderloin and the soma for food and nutrition, for health and wellness, clinics, and then for shelters and housing. and all these centers are destinations that we will transport by transport and arrange the next step. now we have been asked what if people walk out. this is where we'll be recruiting both our ambassadors to be helping people not to be lingering or loitering in the area, and around other clinics where this model has been tried, it's been very successful in making sure. it's been done in a successful way that people move on to whatever they need to be moving to, whether that's finding their friends or their tents or where they were previously. and then we'll be also using the

street crisis teams if people need a second engagement. the third area that we have been receiving concerns is street cleanliness, and here we've worked with health right, and health right is committed to keeping the street clean. they will wash the street. we have a full-time janitor 24 hours a day. they will wash the street when needed. they will pick up cigarette butts when needed. we have a designated smoking area in a nearby parking lot that is supervised, and we will be working with san francisco aids foundation who has agreed to do needles and medical waste pick-up, which as you remember was one of the highest complaints on the 311 line which this neighborhood had experienced. we will also work with ambassadors in this area in the same way to both make the area clean as well as safe. the last question i received is:

how will you know whether you've become better or worse? we are going to -- we have identified the census tracks that will be most relevant to the neighborhood impacts, both south of the center and north of the center. the center is a little bit interesting in that it lies right on the line of the census track division. but we will have 311 and 911 data that we will track in real time to make sure that we are not impacting the neighborhood negatively and that we can track if there is any changes, we can begin to understand with the help of sfpd what those concerns might be related to. we will also, again, make sure that our outreach and referral service is competent and that we can count the number of outreach. we will look at the number of successful participants in terms

of do they accept referral and transportation, and we will look at the number of referrals that come in. basically we'll track where they come from and where they go. we'll respond quickly to concerns, and we will have a community forum after we open to address any future concerns. next slide, please. let me leave with this is this is the number and the phone that we'll have open, and we are, again, committed to following up after we open. we'll have a three-month kind of demonstration to see what we've learned and then meet with the community. we are not going to be opening until the end of the year, fall 2020, so a lot of the details that we've had questions about we are still hoping to work on and work in particular, for example, an r.f.p. regarding transportation. in general, soma/tenderloin is

where we need a solution. we will measure our impact by all the measures i talk to you. we have a detailed plan for the concerns, and we'll follow up if there are any future concerns following the opening. that's our commitment to you. that's our commitment to the community, and that's our commitment to the clients and participants that will be using this center. so i'm going to end here and i'm going to turn this over to our partner, health right, so you can actually hear how the services will be delivered and what happens inside the four walls. kathleen silk? >> good evening, commissioners, and thank you for having me again to discuss this proposed program. i previously presented to the commission in the spring of 2020 on project 180, an earlier proposal for a drug sobering center. i'm glad to be here with you again all today. my name is kathleen silk. i'm a licensed marriage and family therapist and i specialize in substance use disorder and trauma treatment. i am currently the managing director of behavioral health services for health right 360 in

frisk, overseeing over -- san francisco, overseeing over 250 staff across the programs in san francisco. in these programs we serve several thousand people each year, which include street outreach and crisis response, detox and residential substance use treatment, outpatient, as well as transitional housing and criminal justice programs. i am also a native of san francisco and live in the civic center area. health right 360 is one of the largest substance use treatment providers in san francisco as well as providing services across ten counties in california. the agency is the result of a merger of two historic san francisco non-profit organizations, walden house and hay dash free free clinic and we have grown to include many other organizations. we currently provide an array of services here in san francisco aimed at integrated whole person care. in addition to those i listed we also offer primary care and dental services, education and vocational supports, as well as

covid-19 isolation and quarantine testing and vaccination. underlying all of our work is that everyone has the right to access health care. the way we practice that value is in offering services that are compassionate, non-judgmental and affordable. we serve people who are uninsured who experience homelessness who are socio-economically disenfranchised regardless of their ability to pay. we love the people we serve and we love the work that we do. that is why we are deeply concerned about the exponentially increasing dangers and harms of substance use for people who are experiencing homelessness in san francisco, particularly the increased suffering and increasingly high risk of overdose death. next slide, please. we are excited to partner with the department of public health on the proposed soma rise center which we hope will become an integral point of contact for those at most risk. i'll describe some major features of the soma rise center here as dr. pating mentioned the

top recommendation from the task force in 2019 was to open a trauma-informed harm reduction sobering center for people intoxicated on methamphetamines and other substances. this is a neighborhood pilot program focused on serving people who are in soma and tenderloin who experience homelessness and who are currently intoxicated on drugs. all stays are completely voluntary, and we would use a harm reduction approach to meet participants where they are motivated towards wellness and engage them there. our model would also be -- to minimize activating participant trauma response and help bring people out of crisis. the program proposal is a new model in san francisco and a pilot to see how well a low barrier 24/7 harm reduction can serve this community. some will stay for only a couple of hours and some will stay overnight. some may only accept a few resources on their first visit, but we hope to create comfort in

returning for subsequent visits. we will engage people in health, whether that is providing food, clean clothes or transportation referrals to detox or other treatment. we would have staff at this program 24/7, including e.m.t.s, health workers, supervisors and safety monitors. we understand that the harms of substance use are not just ones that impact individuals but whole communities. our goal is to be a positive influence on howard street, one way that we will do that is by having staff present around the clock to bring a sense of stewardship for the area as a good neighbor. next slide, please. the soma rise program is based on a few key elements. as i mentioned, we believe in treating people without judgment and with compassion. we care deeply about people who use drugs and who would seek our services and want to minimize any barriers to engaging them in

this program. we will have medical staff on site around the clock to provide medical assessment and triage and refer out as necessary. we will also be able to provide first aid and assist with linkages to ongoing health care providers. the layout of the program would be the first floor of 1076 howard street which will include spaces for activities, a sleeping area, as well as bathrooms and showers. intoxication withdrawal from meth and other drawings can present with varied features, including agitation and insomnia, extreme tiredness, depressed mood, as well as delusions and hallucinations. we are hoping to create a space that can offer flexible accommodations for those safe and help people feel better while they stay there. we will also offer an area for private counseling or medical assessment. next slide, please. as part of the harm reduction approach, we acknowledge the harms caused by substance use can be numerous and impact different communities in vastly

different ways. in 2021 we cannot talk about community health without also talking about drug user health given the mounting harms destabilizing our community. that includes the overdose epidemic ravaging our city. at this point i think everyone here would agree that we must do everything we can to stop overdose deaths. this includes trying new approaches to lower any possible barriers we can for people to access and engage in health care. we believe that this model of 24/7 low-barrier harm reduction services can reach more people and be part of that solution. the ways in which this program would help address this crisis are multi-fold, including championing narcan distribution and use, overdose education and acting as a gateway to engage in further health care. it also includes helping address what we know to be other risk factors for overdose, isolation, sleeplessness, poor hydration and nourishment, and lack of access to clean, safe supplies. as a long-standing provider of

traditional abstinence-based -- health right 360 is well acquainted of the strengths and limitations of that approach, and while we firmly believe that working towards abstinence makes sense for many people who use substances, for many others it does not. and those are the ones we must work the hardest to reach through innovations like the soma rise center, because we are seeing the fatal consequences of what happens when we do not. at health right 360 we firmly believe in dynamic and person-centered care which must include harm reduction if we are to save more lives. we want soma rise along with the other programs in san francisco to become integral parts of the continuum and fill the void between crisis and ongoing care. next slide, please. health right 360 also has many years of experience of running -- in large milieu settings where many participants have traumatic histories.

underlying all of our services is the prioritization of safety for our participants, our staff and the surrounding area. we strongly believe in trauma-informed practices that account for traumatic experiences in people's backgrounds when attempting to understand behaviors and motivations, and when creating services we want to be impactful. we make an assumption that people often react from places of vulnerability and fear and that having clear, consistent and common-sense expectations in the program create more safety and predictability. these principles also underlie our staff training, which includes non-violent communication and verbal de-escalation. our 24/7 safety monitors will receive those trainings. we also plan to hire people who have lived experience with drug use, homelessness and are familiar with the soma tenderloin neighborhoods. we hope this will create a sense of calm and familiarity which will help people the milieu and surrounding area copacetic. we also want to be responsive to the community we serve. given that we are aiming to serve a group of people who are

legally marginalized due to their addictions, we are avoiding having anyone in security uniforms. our safety monitors may become the most visible in the neighborhood as they would be stationed at the entrance of our program. next slide, please. finally, health right 360 has proven over our decades of experience operating in various residential neighborhoods in san francisco and beyond that we know how to be a good neighbor while providing services to people who use drugs. as part of the early stages of this process to open soma rise, we have provided access to our leadership for feedback on the project and by being actively engaged in the community. we recognize that building a strong community engagement component is essential to the success of soma rise. as dr. pating mentioned, we have begun the process of engaging community stakeholders, such as people who live and work in the soma tenderloin areas, people who use drugs and other harm reduction providers in san

francisco, and hope to continue in earnest as soma rise moves forward. we would also like to create ways for immediate and ongoing feedback from community partners after the launch. many of the key partnerships will be major players in referrals into and out of the programs. we plan to partner with the many amazing organizations that already work in the soma tenderloin areas to create more linkages and refer back and forth and coordinate with the services we offer. we have also received honest and generous feedback from many community members about specific considerations for the safety of that area. our hope is to be a positive presence with 24-hour staff on-site and would continue to work and respond to community concerns. we would also proactively partner with the community ambassadors that d.p.h. plans to engage. finally, a major partnership we hope to continue to build on is that with the community of people who use drugs in soma and who are at high risk of death by overdose. as a true harm reduction program, this program should have the voices, preferences and

expertise of people who will use the service built into the structure and practices. we have begun and will continue to engage in that process if this program moves forward by creating community feedback forms and other mechanisms. ultimately this program is for them and we hope that they would be able to help guide its success. next slide, please. thank you for allowing me to describe the proposed program, and i'm happy to answer any questions. >> thank you very much for this summary and this very purposeful set of presentations. i believe at this point we would open the floor for public comment. >> yes, i'm going to first take off the presentation just so that we can. please note that you each will have two minutes to speak. you're only allowed to speak

once, and you're not allowed to come back a second time and read a statement by somebody else. i see many hands. i'll do my best to keep this orderly. so when i click on you, just let us know that you're there, please. caller? >> suzanne merrill. >> you've got two minutes. >> yes. thank you. my name is suzanne merrillic, and i'm speaking on behalf of the san francisco brass jewish unit group to express our strong support for the soma rise pilot project. the unity group is a grassroots organization made up of people of faith and social activists, committed to the causes of racial, social and economic justice and dismantling systemic racism. our health and general welfare arm focuses on remedying inequities in health and general welfare. we advocate for local supportive access to health care in underserved communities, including safe spaces for mental

health and substance abuse services to address the needed emotional, psychological and behavioral support. providing health services to the underserved and especially black populations in san francisco is a priority. we believe black and underserved populations are in a state of emergency in this city as access to adequate drug treatments. the black population is overdosing at a much higher percentage proportionally to whites. the city requires creative and replicable responses preventing overdose death and connecting people to support services will stem the tide in record deaths on our streets. we support the drug sobering center plan as an important addition to the growing city comprehensive and innovative strategy to develop multiple ways to help the most vulnerable and underserved population and to save lives. the center will track the results of the clients they serve and those outcomes. the city has an excellent record of collecting data from pilot projects such as this one to be

able to model, tailor appropriately and expand successful interventions. the drug sobering center plan will help not only those in crisis but create a safer community by getting those in crisis into treatment and off the streets. thank you so much. >> thank you very much for your comments. all right, next caller, i have unmuted you. please let us know that you're there. caller? all right, i will come back to you. i'll try you again. caller, i've unmuted you. please let us know that you're there. >> hello. >> yes. you've got two minutes. >> hi, thank you. my name is roma guy and i'm representing taxpayers for public safety today. and we strongly continue to support the launching of now soma rise, and also the contract

with health right 360. it's been a long time to bring this project to fruition, and we want everyone to hang on the point and we want to continue supporting this city investment. it has broad community support, neighborhood support, people experiencing drug use support. so let's go. number two, since this is a pilot program, i would recommend that the health commission, through its own committee structure, have a report, let's say ten months after or 12 months after to begin to listen to what the successes are and some of the modifications. that's really what we encourage, and thank you very much for getting it to you, the health commission. >> thank you very much, former

health commissioner roma guy. all right, caller, please let us know that you're there. i've unmuted you. >> hello. can you hear me? >> yes, you've got two minutes. >> thank you. this is alex lud lum calling, vice-president of the soma west community benefits district. i have attended three past meetings. the number one concern expressed in all of those, which was not mentioned today, was the fact that this location is within two blocks of eight child educational facilities, including an elementary school, and that has not been addressed. furthermore, to combine soma and the tenderloin is very disingenuous. if you go to this location today, there are not permanent drug addicts who have set up home on the block.

you go six blocks north, you will find plenty of those. so the neighborhood concern is that you will bring those six blocks closer to this location, which is right in the center of the san francisco families district, and thus all the youth centers. furthermore, it is not accurate that this has broad community support. it is not accurate that the neighborhood loves the idea. as dr. pating said, success will be measured by people coming back. in other words, they will have to still be having psychotic episodes on the street outside, and that will represent success, so we believe this center will perpetuate the drug crisis in san francisco, and i don't see how giving someone a shower and then hoping they come back a

week later is addressing the issue. thank you. >> thank you very much for your comments. caller, i have unmuted you. please let us know that you're there. >> yes, i'm here. >> great. you've got two minutes. >> hi. i'm dr. pat denning. i'm the director of clinical services and training for the harm reduction therapy center in san francisco, and we have been providing services to people with mental health and substance use issues in soma and the tenderloin areas for 15 years, and one of the things that we know for sure is that there is no fast, quick solution, that welcoming people and getting them to come back is unfortunately not a fast solution, but it will be a permanent one for people who feel welcome and then will take part in services. that's the reality of how it

works. the other thing that i think is so important for the sobering center is that people having drug crises, and particularly behavioral health crises as a result of substance use on the streets is incredibly upsetting to all the neighbors, to other homeless people who are living on the street, and to be able to have an indoor space for people who are very distressed as a result of crises because of their substance use, where they can get comfort and also not distress other people. so i think the sobering center is a wonderful idea, and i know that it will yield great results and that we might have to be patient in order to see the full measure of success of these kinds of programs. thank you. [please stand by]

the number people that have died in san francisco has been rising at a staggering rate with a tripling of the death rate in three years out pacing covid-19 deaths in the city during the same span of time and this loss

of life is exception lehigh but i don't think this comes as a surprise either because in 2019, providers warned of the possibility of increased deaths in 2020 and against the factors that it contributed to a overdose for decades and we wanted the same in 2020 about anticipated increases during this year. prior to the pandemic, san francisco was already faced with the persistent challenged posed by drug overdose and the situation has worsened and need for associated service has amplified and our most vulnerable neighbors and loved ones black, indigenous, people of color, and those who at the intersection of homelessness and drug use are experiencing the brunt of these consequences and it's happening in our communities right now. all of them to some extent. speaking from the perspective of a harm reduction team, the increase number of deaths last year was tragic and this year it's even more over whelming. overdose will condition if we put up barriers to the most vulnerable among us including the people opposed to this proposal. it was the top recommendation of

the methamphetamine task force in 2019 and represents an opportunity to help address the needs of the individuals using drugs. the science behind these interventions are i am fad i can and cost effective and please, listen to people who use drugs and a front-line staff and provide them with the resources they ask for. thank you. >> clerk: thank you very much for your comments. next caller, please let us know that you are there. >> caller: yes, i'm here. my name is steve fields and i'm the executive director of progress foundation. we're a 51-year contract of public heath providing behavioral health services across the continuum of for service of the public clients of the mental health system and our most recent program is two blocks from the proposed site for the soma rise center.

we were the first drop-in referral for severe mental illness for going to the psychiatric emergency room to divert people who did not need that level of intervention if there was a community-based opportunity for them in their own neighborhoods. we have 11 years of experience on door alley serving people in this community who are in both mental illness, distress and also people who have been using drugs. i want to outline a very good, all the good reasons for why this is such a critically needed service and to the bottom line, it's will save lives and it's a case of care as will be the case with the soma rise center and we're losing sight of the fact that a low barrier entry into

services is the gateway to getting treatment. as long as people have a place where they can go and they feel listened to, they feel cared about, and they feel responded to in terms of their experience on the streets and there's experience with using drugs and or their mental illness, that is the opportunity for the staff to imply and to encourage and refer people who come here for the services into the behavioral health systems of san francisco. we've seen that for 11 years at the urgent care. people who would be in and oust emergency -- >> clerk: your time suppose. thank you. next caller, you are unmute. please let us know that you are there. >> caller: hello. this is james and i've lived in the neighborhood since 2002 and i helped put together the soma

west community benefit district because our particular neighborhoods, western part of soma, has just been kind of neglected and a lot of things have been just pushed into our neighborhoods. big developments, along the waterfront whatever else, a while back, just said we don't want projects in our facilities so they gave the city money and the city just built stuff in our neighborhoods. that's one of the reasons why we put together the benefit district so we could actually have a voice to take care of neighborhoods to take care of the people in the area and of course, this was just another example of the city just flopping something into our neighborhood. obviously you've heard other people say, which is true, if you drive from this center there's a people on streets in the tenderloin. it's so different, it's shocking

that this site was the one that was picked when the reality is is it's so much more needed six, eight, 10 blocks north of us. i don't understand how this site became the site. it must have been like special treatment or something because it doesn't make any sense. it's like, the tenderloin you go 10 blocks north is like a disaster zone right now for drugs. and this facility is, there's not a lot of people with drug problems milling around right there. so i don't know how that was picked and like alex said, it's so close to so many youth centers within two blocks it's very shocking. the other thing i want to point out was that the city, my husband was punched in the face by a person on meth. this is a sunday morning at 10:30. the police said that they had responded to the same person on

the street -- >> i'm sorry your time is up. i apologize. next caller, you are unmuted. >> clerk: let us know you are there. >> caller: hello. >> clerk: you've got two minutes. >> caller: thank you. hello health commission members. my name is calder and i'm a san francisco resident and work in unhoused services as the director of operations. i've also worked for 13 years in the tenderloin with people in crisis including a community safety program operating next to a school. i fully support this sobering centers and the street crisis responses team and sfpd, sf fire, and many providers in the area to engage deescalate and support people who are experiencing a crisis. these types of service provide stability and safety for the community both for the housed and unhoused communities. health rate 360 will run this

program and has a track record of leaving support services with compassion and care and understanding for building communities. they have and provide deescalation services via staff on site that will help them stay safe. dph has shown a strong commitment to solution-based services which are science-led and innovative and especially during the pandemic in the midst of an overdose crisis. we know these programs save lives and meet people where they're at and make communities safer. they have the ability to connect people to treatment options and build relationships with those who are actively struggling on our streets. make month mistakes about it, we're in a crisis when it comes to people overdosing and seeking community support and this is a pilot that deserves a chance to make a positive impact in an area that needs that support and is absolutely deserving an opportunity to save lives in our city. this can be challenging work but we've learned through this pandemic even faced with real challenging when people meet each other where they're at the

impossible can be possible. thank you for your time and consideration. >> clerk: i apologize for cutting folks off but everyone only has two minutes. that's how we get through this and everyone has a fair process for everyone to have the same a lot of time. i will unmute the next caller. let us know that you are there. >> caller: hi, can you hear me? >> clerk: yes, you have two minutes. >> caller: i'm following calder we work at the project and i want to talk as an individual who this year has lost three people to overdose that i knew and worked with and spent time with. i really just want to talk about the human condition right now and there's so much tragedy happening on our streets and sometimes i feel like in san francisco we think that this is something that is special to us.

overdoses are happening around the world right now and this is the opioid crisis is larger than just san francisco. and it's really important that we, as a city, and we as the people of san francisco, stand up and recognize and support people who use drugs. as dig need human beings who deserve a chance for a better life and having these services, which are so perfected for their needs to have an opportunity to feel like they are comfortable enough to start making choices, to better their health, we need programs like this in order to be able to do it. so, thank you very much and i'm in support. >> clerk: thank you for your comments. next caller, let us know you are there. >> caller: hello. >> clerk: you have two minutes. >> caller: my name is barrie alexander and i'm a san francisco resident and i'm in full support of the soma rice re

sobering center and harm reduction in san francisco. thank you. >> clerk: thank you for your investment next caller, let us know you're there. >> caller: this is dina lawn vice president of policy at san francisco community clinic con n consortium and i ask that the commission following the science and know that this is something that has been researched and we need this kind of low-barrier accessible sites. to those who kind of are concerned about the site, i would say what do you plan to do about the crisis of drug addiction in our city if we can't locate these kinds of centers. thank you. >> thank you, very much for your

comments. next caller, i have unmuted you. let us know that you are there. >> hello. >> yes, we've got two minutes. >> thank you. my name is saul rothman i'm a resident of the neighborhood and i've lived here for 12 years. right across the street from the other sobering center, on mission street. the problem with the short term solution that is being proposed here, is that those who have recovered temporarily drug addiction, or mental health issues, can walk a block away and meet 25 drug dealers to further their needs. so i don't see the sobering center as being long-term solution for any of the drug problems we're having here. i'd love to see it located in a little different part of the neighborhood further away from the dealers at seventh and market. thank you.

>> clerk: thank you for your commence. next call, please let me know that you are there. >> caller: hello. hi, i'm jeannie little and i'm the executive director of the harm reduction center which has been delivering low threshold mental health services in san francisco for 20 years. i want to applaud this comprehensive program to care for the most multi-impacted health disparities people in san francisco. it will serve a disproportionate number of people who suffer from homelessness and poverty and who are black, indigenous and people of color. all research shows that only care and compassion will activate people's sense of home and lead to motivation to change their lives, it's a way to step away from polices and punishing which compound danger,

homelessness, depression and lead to a dead end. san francisco right now supported by proposition c is funding, is investing in massive increases in-housing and mental health services and we actually stand the chance of making a real difference for the people that we have been worried about for years now and this program is one that will actually only a 24 hour stay it's an essential part of the system of care that will enable people to get started so thank you very much. bye-bye. >> thank you for taking time to make comments. >> clerk: you are unmuted. please, let us know that you are. >> you have two minutes. >> my name is mark sackett and i own a number of companies directly across the street from here at 1073 howard street.

howard is moss. i'm in strong opposition to the location but not the program. i think the program is brilliant and it's a great idea and it is in completely a wrong location. the location should be, as others have stated, more near where the center of this problem really is and we don't have these issues down here right now and we have drugs, we have crime, we have all of the other issues but we don't have that kind of clients person on the street down here and it's easily six to 10 blocks north of here and i don't know why a location hasn't been looked at up there. i know that -- i've watched this building be remodeled and it was supposed to be a co working space and the wheels fell off during covid and the city found the space. i understand that. that's what happened down here for the last 18 years that i've lived in this part of the neighborhood. it doesn't happen up in other parts of the city but the city

has crammed these services in this neighborhood for years. and it continues to do so. one of the commissions said these services are in the neighborhood it's because there are so many of them down here because they tried to cram them together. we need to have balance in this neighborhood many of it's killing my businesses, i lost 30, $40,000 pre pandemic to clients who said they would not come down here because there were tent cities out front. so, we have many problems in the city. we are all aware of it. we have drugs problems and homeless issues. we keep trying to locate that stuff down here and as the people from the soma west cbd, who we are a member of, and how much money as a building owner i have to pay to be a part of the cbd, and they do such a great job down here and we're seeing a massive shift and a massive clean up happening because of their good work. we're seeing more and more of these services being crammed in down here and the odd thing

about this there's no consideration for all the schools. >> clerk: i apologize but your time is up. next caller, i have unmuted you. >> caller: y. i'm here. well, thank you first of all thank you so much for this presentation and an opportunity to speak. i think i'm the only one so far that has spoken as a person who is actually used meth and has been in recovery for quite some time. i have utilized services, heath right 360 and i'm familiar with harm reduction and its programs and methodology and i'm very educated in terms of 12-step programs. so, just a couple questions, project is situated right next to an elementary school and you have people in recovery coming to this particular spot. people that may be using because it is a harm reduction program and i've yet to see anybody

loiter. i don't see it brought it because of this facility and i've been there for three years, working within this program for three years. it's just because it's a good neighbor, which is why the situation is so -- it's just a great situation. and all these troubles that these people are speaking about with regard that might happen because of the facility in the soma area, there's just to evidence to buy t these facilities don't bring blight. they have often find themselves in blight but they don't bring blight. as a matter of fact, they prevent blight. so i really appreciate what you guys are doing. i support the project and so thank you for letting me comment. >> thank you, very much, for taking time to comment. next caller, i have unmuted you. let us know you are there. >> i'm here. >> you have two minutes.

>> hi, there, my name is julia and i'm a pharmacist in the city and i'm also a resident of the neighborhood. and i am echoing what mark said. i'm in support of the program but i'm not really in support location. i do feel they have spoken out that there are more needing neighborhoods further north and that this neighborhood is regard crammed with similar services and i also am late to join the meetings so i apologize if this isn't accurate i have a concern if these patients are not under a medical hold they can leave the facility against medical advice and that could pose a danger to the neighborhood or just kind of an issue in the neighborhood. and so those are my concerns. i do hope that security is taken into consideration and location taken into consideration but i'm happy we'll get some help for those folks. thank you for your time. >> thank you for your comments. all right.

>> clerk: robert, are you there? i'll come back to you. call he is, let us know this you are there. >> caller: hi, i'm a researcher at usf and i've lived in san francisco for throw years during which i have engage with people who are unhoused and use drugs both in the tenderloin and soma area and i've been conducting research on substance mental health and harm reduction for 10 years to help reduce systemic qualities, it's just a simple of underlying problems and should never exclude people from

participating in programs or society. most people use drugs are experts when it comes to drug use and they don't intend to experience adverse effects or overdose. the reason why people are using drugs to and it's not enough to judge whether those reasons are valid or not. when they have a harmful substance it means negatively impact their mental health or vice versa if are help to prevent serious harm. many people who use drugs are not interested in changing their substance behavior today, however, they serve to be access to a safe space, especially when in crisis. the compassionate and community based approach of soma rice risecenter will help connect see what's they change. building trust takes time. the evidence is clear. holding space is the answer. i hope that the sustained dialogue goes neighbors who the health and well-being of all. thank you, very much.

>> clerk: thank you for making comments. next caller, you are unmuted, please let us know that you are there. hi, caller, can you hear me. >> caller: i've been unmuted for the second time. this was an accident. >> clerk: i apologize. next caller, let us know you are there. >> caller: caller, are you there? caller, you are there, you are unmuted. hi, can you hear me? ok. and let's see. caller, i've unmuted you, let us know that you are there. >> caller: yes. hi, my name is calvin shoe and i'm a soma resident and i'm a sf

resident but i'm a soma resident and i actually live within one block of this rehabilitation center. while i support the effort, i don't support the location. district 6, we have been supporting a lot of these projects for some time and it's created a negative sort of community around this area and you know, in the time of the coronavirus, con ser rate ising service and having these homeless people and having these drug addictions, they don't follow social distancing. it's a health hazard. i want to emphasize that a lot of these people, they're not mentally able to deal with this and i would like to see the other districts taking up some of the slack and not just putting stuff into district six into my neighborhood and i think we need to think about those health guidelines in the sarn tarry conditions because everybody is talking about rainbows but that is not the case if they were to live in

this area. thank you. >> clerk: thank you very much for your comments. all right. so commissioners and members of the public just so you know, the system is very chaotic and so i'm trying to track everybody and there's a strange way to do it. give me one second to make sure i capture anyone and i apologize if i repeat anyone. it takes me just a second. >> think we've gotten everybody that has their hand up. thank you so much. >> before we move to commissioner questions and comments, on behalf of the commission, i want to thank all the members of the public who really thoughtful and heartfelt comments and we are listening and i think everyone in this meeting, through out this city, wants to see the is curve bent on this critical and fightenning problem we're facing. we really appreciate your input

and the other thing we heard in this is partnership. there's a great commitment on the part of the d.p.h. and health rights 360 and the commission and on the part of the mayor's office to make this a collaboration and a partnership and i know we'll hear a little bit more about how we plan to get further reports on this item and and providing services remember tag we have no vote over the actual location. i want to go now, having said this to the commission questions and comments. mark, i can't see this very well. maybe you can see who -- i see a hand up. >> clerk: yes. that's all the hands is that are up. >> thank you, very much and thank you for the excellent presentation and also for the public comments, it is

appreciated, your input. i have a couple of questions on the presentation that may ally to the presentation and possibly to the contract. my first is, i would -- you had mentioned the community meetings. when the project is in place and i would open also just suggest to you at least during the pilot phase that you would consider quarterly meetings with the neighborhoods to gather more feedback and that information and the commission would very much like to hear the neighbor comments are. my second question is the information that i read in the

contract was that the age of accepted within the program are 18 and above. my question is, if in fact there is a adolescent that is walking, and the adolescent is not 18 but 16 or 17 will the adolescent be treated? that would be one of my comments. my questions. >> you want me to take this now or -- >> no. i mean, that would be a question my first was just a comment that i'm hoping we would -- that you would consider the quarterly meetings and that our commission could have your feedback but my question is about the ages. it would be one of my questions. >> with regards to the first one though, we are committing to meeting in that first quarter following the opening. we've met a lot and we have a plan so right now the next six

months is get things going so there's not really a lot of activity other than movers moving in and out. so, we are committing to that quarterly meeting and after that, we're working out with health rights the best way to get feedback with, they are tending the soma west community benefits meeting and there are other meetings in the area that they're attend being so whether it's outreach or inreach that's what we're discussing. and the second thing is regarding the ages greater or less -- it's limited to 18 and above we needed con firmation on this but we heard from the hsh that the services for sheltering and this is licensed as a shelter, it's opening as a shelter not a clinic so it's not a medical model. but shelters have an 18 and above adult service and the state requires different shelters for less than 18 so health right is confirmed to us that they would welcome anyone

less than 18 and they would themselves but if they realize that they were a minor or an adolescent, they would begin to coordinate warm hand offs to appropriate shelter services or something of the equivalent. it would be a kind and compassionate approach and they will be using birth dates upon entry in order to enter into epic but it's all tied up with our data systems. and so, when we get the birthday, assuming people get the right birthday if they're less than 18, i've been reassured that it would be very kind, appropriate and gentle and again the state law requires a division. [please stand by]

>> okay. if you would just note that, i would appreciate it. those are my questions, thank you. >> and i noted it, commissioner. >> thank you. commissioner chow. >> commissioner chow: thank you. and i also want to thank the public for their thoughtful comments and it seems to me that there was consensus that we have a problem and something needs to be done. this was an innovative way of trying to respond to the problem not meant to take the entire problem with one solution but that as a pilot. i do also recall that the

department has not called the tenderloin. certainly in terms of timing and covid came. it just seems to me we need a pilot. i'm very pleased that dr. petey is leading this. congratulations, and i wonder how you view if you were a commissioner that you think that your story can then be best told and a setting which you can of course work out with our commission officers. knowing the problem as it is

some of our questions and also demonstrate how the public concern is or is not being threatened >> commissioner chow, thank you very much for that question. did you stay up all night thinking of that? >> commissioner chow: you know me. >> you see the whole city, you know where all the needs are and i think you understand.

how can we balance the needs of the city which is health and safety and wellness and welcoming and low threshold with the needs of this individual community that has to bear the construction of it, people going in and out and the worry. with regards to the worry, the evidence is is that when we look at similar programs like methadone clinics which is even more of a trial than this will be. but i understand the words and so from that basis, i would like us to have come back to you after the opening and we'd be able to resolve the plan of what we're going to do. we're giving you a plan to say here's what we're going to do.

this is for the soma and the tenderloin. we've given you a plan that says here's how we're going to make sure people don't linger. we're going to find destinations. we're going to make sure the ambassadors and people don't just hang around with nothing else to do. we're going to make sure the area stays clean and then we're going to measure all these things. the only thing is we're going to come back and hold us to our response. the last thing i'll leave you with. being on the other side. the question is what other programs have we opened that have been similar to this and i would be looking at some of the navigation centers and what

we've learned from the embarcadero navigation center, but within three to six months of that opening, there has been great collaboration. there's been a welcoming from the neighborhood and many of the concerns that were initially raised and these are real concerns and worries. i don't want to undermind them, but they have melted the way into a sense of this has really served the community and i believe this is what you're going to find. it's a new model, but it's not without precedence in so many different ways. we had the alcohol sobering shows, this can be and we have the synergy of mental health san francisco. and this kind of novelty is what we need to move forward.

that's what i would have you do. have you come back. tell me, you know, that we either did it or we didn't and if we didn't, then we've got to do something else. this is the pilot we have to learn and we're not going to go anywhere else. >> commissioner chow: we do know that following system on several of the projects that we were pleased to hear or not hear i would say back from the public and rightly so now turning our attention to try to take care of this epidemic that we want to make sure the public also feels that we are taking them into consideration as we find the appropriate services

to help our fellow residents who are unfortunately stricken by these diseases. so thank you, dr. patting. i almost said commissioner pating. i'm really pleased that you're going to be helping to lead this and i know that mark will work with dr. cofax and the team to see how we will get those reports. >> thank you very much. >> vice president green: thank you for doing a great summary of what our requests would be. much appreciated. i believe commissioner guillermo may be on the phone with a question or comment. is that right? >> yes. i unmuted her. commissioner, you are unmuted so you can go. >> commissioner guillermo: thank you, and i apologize for not being -- for having to leave the video and being on the phone, but i wanted to also

acknowledge as have my fellow commissioners follow the engagement from the community and from other service providers and showing how important these issues are to all of you as you represent not only yourself, but the neighborhood, the businesses, and so on and the client. so my appreciation is very wide and strong for all of you. i had a question for and thank you dr. pating for your patience in answering the questions and describing so heartfully that the understanding i think you have of the issues that or the concerns that range across all of the different stakeholders

in the area and in the community. i had a question for i think it was missiling from 360 regarding the staffing for the sobering center and i was wondering, are you going to have to hire new staff and train them and orient them or are you going to populate or transfer i guess existing 360 health right 360 staff that are already familiar with and knowledgeable about the kinds of services that we're going to be trying to provide at the new sobering center? >> this is kathleen. so we plan to open these positions up to new employees.

we will be looking for a good mix of people who have experience doing this work as well as i mentioned people with lived experience of drug use and homelessness. in all instances and in all hires, we also plan to have a really robust on boarding and ongoing training and supervision program for our staff and ongoing. while we're very familiar with running large programs, this is a pilot and we want to pay very special attention to the specific needs of this program, of this area, and so that's it. i think that's a great question because it's a huge consideration and it's a huge part of what we hope to develop over the next six months is really robust staff and onboard training. i do anticipate there will be

some people that other organizations in the city not that we're going to steal anybody but i think there's a lot of people interested in this work and supporting it by bringing their own expertise in supporting it. yeah. we're looking to join a special team and i get the sense that you also agree that the staffing support and the training is of the utmost importance and i couldn't agree more. >> commissioner guillermo: absolutely. particularly in recruiting staff that you are able to articulate in terms of the experience and qualifications trained staff that are familiar with the neighborhood, certainly familiar with san francisco the diversity of san francisco and the ability to really understand how the

issues of balance and the kinds of crisis and tensions that are going to rise inevitably so that we can really help to assure that this model can have the same potential success as articulated by dr. pating with the embarcadero center and others that we're familiar with. >> absolutely. and, we do have a program director already on board. some of you are familiar with him mr. parken who has been providing it in san francisco for a few decades. i wholeheartedly agree. >> vice president green: thank you. director colfax. >> director: thank you, vice president green and thank you, commissioners for your comments and i just want to express my appreciation for the hard work that the d.p.h. team along with

hr360 and with the community, the community input and partnership. this has been a journey. and this is really a key recommendation of multiple efforts to do better with regards to behavioral health in our city from the methamphetamine task force to mental health reform to mental health sf. this type of facility, this type of need has been commonly identified theme throughout due to covid. but starting to make really i think key progress now. just as, director, i want to commit the department. you already heard from others on this, just ongoing community engagement about the impact of this facility in the neighborhood if and when it does get approved.

the quality which is a pilot. that's what pilots are for. we need to learn from this in order to do better across the city with regard to behavioral health services, behavioral health reform and behavioral health strategies. so thank you to everyone for your work on this. >> vice president green: thank you so much, director colfax. and we will work with secretarimorewitz. it would be helpful to discuss the building phase and perhaps quarterly reports on your data and your assessment of progress. we expect the team will come together and better understand how things are progressing. we do have the action item and the approval to enter a new

contract to establish the drug sobering center which is a pilot low barrier sobering center for adults who use substances for a total not to exceed $5 million for a term of 18 months from july 1, 2021, to december 31, 2022. and, i don't believe is there any more -- are there any other presentations associated with this action item? >> no, commissioner. but i believe ms. rebel and dr. pating will have comments. it will be brief. >> vice president green: excellent. okay. >> yeah. you grabbed that first part. so it's an 18-month contract. it's a new contract. we're doing it as a full source so we're able to start the services and if it's successful, then we will put out an rsp solicitation and

seek proposals that right now this is a full source. i just wanted to note that the final approval of this contract and subsequent contract certification is contingent upon approval by the board of supervisors of the proposed lease agreement for the property at 1076 howard and that's as you know the location where the services will take place. that is an up coming lease. so, final approval and final certification wouldn't happen unless there was a lease approved. but i think if you have programs, then i think david pating would be the recipient of those. >> thank you very much for that clarification. other presenters comments at all? is there any public comment on

this item? >> folks on the line, this is item 10, the contracts of the services that we just discussed, the program in item 9. please press star 3 if you'd like to make comment. again, this is the contract. star 3. i see no hands, commissioners. >> vice president green: thank you. are there any commissioner questions or comments on this action item? >> all right. seeing none. we'll entertain a motion to approve this contract. >> we'll make a motion to approve that contract. >> vice president green: and is there a second? >> commissioner chow: second. >> vice president green: all right. roll call vote. >> clerk: [roll call] all right. the item passes. thank you, commissioners. >> vice president green: thank you very much, everyone.

the next item is other business. >> and, i want to note the public comment request. i apologize, but it was the wrong item. if you're still on the line and want to make public comment about other business. i'm sorry. i think we lost that caller. there's no hands, commissioners. >> vice president green: thank you. any other business from the commissioners? very good. then the next item is a joint conference committee and other committee reports. the zsfg jcc meeting. commissioner chow. >> and, commissioner chow, before you speak, i thought this meeting was longer and i was e missed on not sending commissioner chow notes. i'm not sure if you can wing

it, dr. chow. >> commissioner chow: well, thank you. i found our packet which is like 100 pages. i'll employ brief but i'm giving you probably the most important highlights. general went through five different surveys in the past month, i mean, absolutely amazing within, well, i soon say within the past month but from april 29th to june -- no. to may sixth. there were five surveys for which no deficiencies were found. the joint commission tvi certification survey for which there was one deficiency that is being responded to. the joint commissioner try any

accreditation survey. this is our most important survey and basically, one of the reasons why there is a health commission because before the health commission, the previous oversight actually had a failure in terms of general and almost had a loss of accreditation. in that case, there were two conditional findings that needed to be responded to and with a visit and 35 other findings and considering that there's something like over 1,500 points in of survey that have to be then brought together into larger types of guidelines, this is rather amazing and the team apparently also made a note of the very

fine work being done by the hospital and it was then a commission on cancer that in may passed and the commission survey would only consul tate a findings. it was just simply amazing. actually, it was like in two weeks that there were five different surveys. so that was perhaps our most important and impactful report to us. we also got a report in which on quality throughout the hospital and not just by silos. and an initiative is going on with dr. luke john day and chief says then tony to

actually bring this about through an a3 process and we'll be following that. it's trying to bring together a lot of the quality programs happening and bring them together into a more concentrated focus. lastly, we also then received a report on on the primary care department reported on all the work that they were doing. last in closed session, we did take up the credentials report and passed that and also received the p.i.p.s report for the month and passed that. but that's the best of what i can remember off of our set of documents. >> vice president green: thank

you so much, commissioner chow. you're remarkable in your ability to summarize so beautifully off the cusp. it was truly impressive that the team was able to do so well on these multiple surveys that commissioner chow said and the quality work where they also had to distill so many different in order to ensure initiatives. so it was a very thorough meeting and i think we were very pleased to see the team work together and to see the progress and, of course, we talked a little bit about the success with the covid-19 hospital stays being few and the escalating numbers of staff that are vaccinated as well as patients in the community all due to the efforts as of the

general staff. >> commissioner chow: right. i think it's my fact on the covid, but, if i remember, she announced that we actually had zero patients in the hospital with covid that day. >> vice president green: that's right. all right. dr. earlic, is it still vera? >> good evening, commissioners. sadly, no. we had zero patients for one day, but we have only had five or fewer since then and today we had five. two of whom were in the i.c.u. and so the number of the patients in the hospital has remained quite low and we're all grateful for that and recognize it's the work of our entire community that helps keep it that way. but we had zero for one day and hopefully there will be more days like that coming. >> wonderful, thank you.

thank you so much. is there any public comment on this item? >> folks on the line, we are at the j.c.c. update which is item 12. please press star 3 if you would like to make public comment on this item. no hands, commissioners. >> vice president green: thank you. any further commissioner comments or questions? seeing none. then we will move to the next item which is closed session. >> actually, commissioners. if you recall, that was in your packet, but it was changed. >> vice president green: yes. we were afraid the meeting would run long. i guess the next agenda item would be adjournment. >> yes. >> vice president green: okay. we'll entertain a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> so moved to adjourn the meeting. >> vice president green: is there a second.

>> commissioner: i'll second. >> vice president green: okay. roll call vote. >> clerk: [roll call] thank you, again, commissioner for chairing the meeting. >> vice president green: thanks to everyone for their participation and all of the comments and the collaboration that we've seen today. very grateful. have a good evening, everyone. >> commissioner: thank you, commissioners. thank you, secretary morewitz. good-bye.

>> we love our parks, but we love... >> and the community who is really the core of it all, came together and said what we need is a place for our teenager to play, not just play grounds for the kids and soccer fields but we need a skate park that will keep the kids home in the neighborhood so they can play where they live. >> the children in the neighborhood and it will be a major boone. and we have generations, the youth generations that will be able to use this park in different places. >> the best park in san francisco right here.

>> creating place where people can be active and lead, active, healthy life styles that are going to just stay with them for life. ♪♪

>> thank you to i think the members of the board of supervisors joining us today. i see superintendent safai, budget chair matt haney, supervisor mandelman. thank you for joining us as well as our treasurer, our assessor recorder torrez, the district attorney bodine, and i'm not sure. i think agot all the elected officials here. thank you so much. good afternoon to all the community members, the city staff, elected officials, i can not tell you how happy i am to be here. [applause]

not just because we are announcing that we have officially balanced our latest two-year budget -- though that is important. , no, and i'm happy because i am here in chinatown in front of actual people again. and it feels great. this is the first time in so long that i've seen so many familiar faces kinda. i think i recognize you all. over the past few weeks, san francisco has really started to open up. you can see it everywhere. people are going to museums, to baseball games, enjoying the incredible outdoor dining spaces and families and our parks and playgrounds like this one that we are at today. willy woo woo wang. i had the opportunity to go to the symphony and the performance

was incredible. just being at davey symphony hall was magic. it was san francisco coming back to life. people are excited for what's coming. and i'm excited to be here today with all of you. i want to recognize my budget chair or my budget director ashley and her incredible team. thank you for the hours and hours of work you've put into working with labor and community stakeholders and the city departments to get this budget balanced and delivered on time. over the last year i have seen

what we can do. all of us have been tested like never before. our spirit, our resilience, and our compassion for one another have all been tested. the past year has been hard. we've all been tired. we've been worn down. we faced challenges with our mental health. our kids have suffered. our seniors have suffered. our outlook at times was pretty dark, but through it all we held it together and now today gathered together at willy woo woo wang playground, we are in the light. no, covid is not gone. but the number of people in the hospital is lower than it's been since march of last year. and almost 80% of eligible people have been vaccinated.

>> and thanks to the hard work of so many health care providers and city workers and the parks workers and the people of the city, i can finally declare with pride and confidence that we are literally out of the woods. >> but keep your mask on. now, we haven't done this alone. we have had strong support from the state and federal government including governor gavin new some who has led california and delivered for the workers and small businesses and most vulnerable residents through project home key. thanks to the american rescue plan put forward by the president joe biden and vice president kamala harris and speaker of the house nancy pe low sis, we don't have a crushing budget deficit. thanks to all of those folks.

what we do have, however, is an opportunity, an opportunity to take all that we've lived through and all the lessons that we've learned and focus on what really matters. that's what this budget is about. it's about fulfilling the many promises we made. delivering on fundamental change and lifting up our entire city. now we are here in chinatown because we know this neighborhood was hit first and it was hit hard. february is normally an amazing time for this community when the lunar new year celebrations bring visitors from all over the world. but in february of last year, things were really dark. the lunar new year parade was cancelled. tourists disappeared. small businesses were struggling. and the streets were empty. and in the month since then this

neighborhood has been one of the continuing to suffer from the loss of visitors, yes, but also from the disgusting xenophobia and shocking acts of violence. seniors are afraid to run errands. families worried about their safety. what is happening right now, in particular the attacks against our elders is shameful for our city. it is shameful for our country. just last week i was out to lunch at r&g lounge down the street from here with a woman named ms. wong. after my grandmother passed away, ms. wong became my adopted grandmother. she's so warm and kind, but just like my grandmother, you don't want to get on her bad side. and she fills me with such joy when i see her. she tells me she is proud of me and shows me pictures of her grandchildren. she is truly a beautiful spirit, and she is joining us here today. thank you, ms. wong.

that's my baby, y'all. you mess with ms. wrong, you mess with me. when i see these attacks against our asian seniors, i think of my grandmother. i think of ms. wong. i think of how i feel if someone would lay their hands on them. i know so many of us feel that way here today. and it breaks my heart every single time. and an attack against one of us is an attack on all of us, and san franciscans, we will rise to the occasion to protect our seniors by any means necessary. i have been proud to stand with leaders like assembly member david chiu bill king to call for unity against the racist attacks but to bring forward solutions to support our residents and to send a clear message that the disgusting attacks against our api community must end now and that doesn't just mean having

more law enforcement on our streets. it means continuing and expanding programs like our community guardians. these multi-racial street patrol teams are walking the streets and neighborhoods like this one and visitation valley and the inner richmond, the tenderloin, san bruno avenue and other areas. they know the community. they are from these communities and they are bridging cultural divides, building relationships and watches out for the most vulnerable. this is exactly the kind of program my budget will invest in. it means continuing to fund the senior s corp. program which is serving members of this community. we are also launching an ambitious plan to have community ambassadors up and down mid market corridor and across all of downtown and our waterfront. again, these are ambassadors who are watching our blocks and

making calls for services for those who are struggling and given directions to those who are lost. offering a friendly face to those who are in need. but let's be clear. keeping our city safe also does require law enforcement. that means making sure we have officers on our streets walking the beat and responding to crime. right now every year we lose about 80 officers who either retire or leave the force for other reasons. if we don't replace these officers with new recruits, our police force will shrink. we will lose foot beat. we won't be able to quickly respond to 911 calls. we won't be able to make arrests to hold people accountable. that will not make our city safe. so in this budget we are proposing two police academy classes to keep our ranks stable. the good news is -- the good

news is as we add these academy classes, our police forces is also becoming more diverse. since 2009 the proportion of recruits in our classes have increased from the black community by 45%. the latino by 78%. and the asian community by 79%. removing the bias starts right there by making sure the people in uniform reflect and understand the communities they serve. and we know that we can't stop every crime, and sadly, there will be victims in our city. but i want all residents to feel safe when they step forward to report a crime, especially our seniors, so we are creating a new office of justice innovation that will coordinate the city's response to victims across all

communities including with targeted support for the api community. this new team will also continue our ground breaking work to find more effective ways to respond to people when they call for help no matter what neighborhood you live in. our street crisis response team is already taking our most challenging mental health call to the people who end up in bad situations when confronted by law enforcement. we've got four teams already out on the streets with two more coming soon. we are adding a 17th in this budget. why? because the teams are working. i have seen the results myself. a few weeks ago i went out with a street crisis response team. we arrived on the scene on fisherman's wharf to find a man with no shoes, clearly in need of care talking to himself,

walking in and out of traffic, and the kind of lost soul too many of us have seen too often and wondered why is no one doing anything? why? a police officer had arrived on the scene first, but when the street crisis response team showed up, i could see the relief in the officer's eyes. he knew he wasn't the one for this call. he knew there was a better way. i took time, over an hour and multiple conversations, but eventually that gentleman ended up getting care from paramedics and a clinician. it didn't end in violence or everyone just walking away. better solutions deliver better outcomes. that's how we make a difference. and now in this budget we are expanding our street response teams to include wellness teams, composed of a paramedic and homeless outreach worker that will respond to even more calls,

that would better benefit from a nonpolice response. and we're also adding street overdose response teams to help curb the crisis of overdoses in our city. fentanyl is destroying lives not just here in san francisco but across the country. that's why we will continue to pitch for overdose prevention programs with the help of senator scott weaner at the state level. and we will expand street medicine team and treatment program that have been effective in preventing overdoses and helping people get off opioids and meth. as we increase these services, we also need to continue to enforce our laws against drug dealing. our police officers are on pace to seize more fentanyl this year than ever before. we need every level of our criminal justice system to step

in to stop this drug dealing and especially the people in the tenderloin and other neighborhoods in the city. our residents and those who are suffering on the streets, they deserve better. as we change how we respond to people on the streets, we also need places for them to go. we can have all the outreach teems in the world, but if we don't have housing, shelter, and treatment bed, we are going to see those same people right back on the streets again and again and again. but the good news is it's take an lot of work but we have a plan. starting with treatment beds n. this budget we are funding the acquisition and operation of over 340 new treatment beds. [applause] we have set aside funding to acquire facility for up to 300 more treatment beds so we can

keep growing our pipeline. that is a plan for 640 new beds on top of the 2,000 beds we already have. that is real change. that is a long-term difference. and so when we see someone in need or a family member suffering, we can have some place for them to go and get healthy. and and we are taking the same approach with the homeless recovery plan which will create more permanent and supportive housing places to go. the plan which launched last year by july of 2022, including -- i know, i am excited about it, too. including the largest expansion of permanent supportive housing in 20 years. and this plan is already

working. we have fewer people living in tents on our streets than at the height of the pandemic than even before the pandemic. and we are moving people out of shelter in place hotels right now into permanent, supportive housing. each of these stories is a success and a life changed. people like the vulnerable senior who had been homeless in the mission for 45 years. let's call him tyrone, not call tyrone, but call him tyrone. some of you got that. thank you. >> it wasn't until they got him into a hotel and connected to services that he began to relax. that he had the opportunity to heal. and tyrone moved into permanent

supportive housing and 45 years homeless and now housed permanently. that is almost longer than i have been alive. actually, that is longer than i have been alive kinda. so yes, the homeless recovery plan is working and over the next years between local, state, and federal funding, we are putting in over a billion dollars into action in san francisco to address this. this is an historic investment which will allow us to provide up to 4,000 more new placements to get people off the streets including 1,000 new unit of permanent supportive housing in addition to the 1500 units we already have. we will add two new safe parking sites and create a new 40 and to

keep people housed is the easiest way to end homelessness. more housing, more placements, more people living indoors. yes, this is an historic investment for our city but we have to be honest with ourselves. if we're going to see change on our streets, it takes more than money. we also have to have the will to make the change. so to be clear, we will lead with services to get people housing and the help they need for those with complex needs we will do everything we can to assist them and get them on the path of recovery. we know it's not easy, but that's our commitment. and for those exhibiting harmful behavior, whether to themselves or to others and those refusing assistance, we will use every tool we have into treatment and services to get them indoors. we won't accept people just staying on the streets when we have a place for them to go.

if we focus and invest right, we have a real chance to make a fundamental change for those who are living on the streets for our city as a whole. we also know that our recovery isn't just about getting back to where we were. it's about taking on the existing disparities laid bare by this pandemic. we saw the devastating impact on the latino community. those who lived in crowded conditions who didn't have access to health care and didn't have a lot of trust in government. we saw systemic racism that many of us have known all too well for far too long in the african-american community. exposed by covid and the murder of george floyd. we saw our transgender community suffer from disproportional impact. we saw the young people devastated and women pushed out of the workforce at higher rates

than men when our schools shut down. we witnessed all of this and it's clear that we have a duty to commit so to an equitable community and will continue in the african-american community to fund the dream keeper's initiative. we will include $57 million to fund programs and impacted communities to deliver on work force, small business support, economy relief, food security, testing, vaccine, and mental health support. all the things that got us through this. we will build on the guaranteed

income pilot programs to deliver payment to members of the transgender community. we will offer women free child care so they can get back in the work force. we will fund mental health support for our public school students and continue our opportunities for all program which is providing our young people with paid internship and setting them on the path to success. [applause] we are back filling our lost hotel taxes to ensure that the art and artist cans continue to thrive, deborah walker. and we are setting aside funding to purchase a site for the lgbt cultural museum to have a home

to celebrate all those that fought for exneck this city, supervisor mandelman. we are funding affordable housing, improving playgrounds like this one we constant in today. and improving our streets and replacing aging city infrastructure. we are investing in our inspection system, delivering over $90 million to support muni and bike and pedestrian safety projects because if we don't have a fully functional transportation system, people won't be able to get around in this city. we need testing, outbreak management, shelter in place hotels and to feed and supported those who are in need for months ahead.

like i said, we are out of the woods, but one thing we have learned over the last year, we never know what lies ahead. this pandemic did not give us notice and neither will the next earthquake. that's why we have to do the hard work to prepare. remember over the last year during the worst of our budget, we did not have to lay off any city workers because we had a strong reserve to take us through. we were so lucky to receive the tremendous support from the federal government to stabilize us. there are still challenging times ahead. i know responsibility doesn't grab headlines. but it's what leaders do. we don't raid our reserves unnecessarily so. we protect and we grow them. that's how we will weather any

challenge that comes our way because we are a resilient city. the people of the city are strong and resilient. the people of the neighborhood, chinatown, they are strong and resilient. it is in their history, the oldest chinatown in the country. after the 1906 earthquake and fire, almost all of china town like much of san francisco burned to the ground. people from outside this community said let's move china town to the southeast part of the city and to go across the river to oakland. and the people who lived there and their homes and neighborhood and community. the people who knew proud place and those who came before and

welcomed those who stayed after. they fought for their home and they won. and out of the ashes of that great fire they rebuilt this incredible neighborhood. that is the story of china town and the story of san francisco. not even a global pandemic can knock us out. san francisco is coming back. with these investments, we have a path to get us to where we need to be. it is the people of the city who will propel us to the place we know we need to go. in the challenging times, that is what held us together. san francisco isn't going anywhere except straight ahead into what i see is a bright and

hopeful future. i am so excited to work with each and every one of you to make sure that our city continues to shine. we've been through earthquakes. we've been through fires. we've been through challenges. now we can check off the global pandemic box and guess what, san francisco, after we get this budget passed and we move these dollars into action, we are going to see real change and things will look bet arenaed brighter than before the pandemic. you all are important part to thank in these efforts. thank you, all. looking forward to see this budget pass through the board of supervisors. [applause] women's network for

sustainable future . >> san francisco streets and puffs make up 25 percent of cities e city's land area more than all the parks combined they're far two wide and have large flight area the pavement to parks is to test the variants by ininexpensive changing did new open spaces the city made up of streets in you think about the potential of having this space for a purpose it is demands for the best for

bikes and families to gather. >> through a collaborative effort with the department we the public works and the municipal transportation agency pavement to parks is bringing initiative ideas to our streets. >> so the face of the street is the core of our program we have in the public right-of-way meaning streets that can have areas perpetrated for something else. >> i'm here with john francis pavement to parks manager and this parklet on van ness street first of all, what is a parklet and part of pavement to parks program basically an expense of the walk in a public realm for people to hang anti nor a urban acceptable space for people to use. >> parklets sponsors have to apply to be considered for the

program but they come to us you know saying we want to do this and create a new space on our street it is a community driven program. >> the program goes beyond just parklets vacant lots and other spaces are converted we're here at playland on 43 this is place is cool with loots things to do and plenty of space to play so we came up with that idea to revitalizations this underutilized yard by going to the community and what they said want to see here we saw that everybody wants to see everything to we want this to be a space for everyone. >> yeah. >> we partnered with the pavement to parks program and so

we had the contract for building 236 blot community garden it start with a lot of jacuzzi hammers and bulldozer and now the point we're planting trees and flowers we have basketball courts there is so much to do here. >> there's a very full program that they simply joy that and meet the community and friends and about be about the lighter side of city people are more engaged not just the customers. >> with the help of community pavement to parks is reimagining the potential of our student streets if you want more information visit them as the pavement to parks or contact pavement to parks at sfgovtv.org

man, this is a dream come true. housing for homeless veterans and very low income families of san francisco. this is beautiful. ed lee's birthday's tomorrow and he's smiling from heaven. am i right? anita, am i right? okay. this is too much joy. i promise not to preach too long because we've got the madam speaker here and the mayor and you want to hear them more than me. was i always like to start with some blessing. those of you who know me, i try to do the peoples' blessings. so you have to say the four words. matt, real loud. you're in the front row. we wish the spirit of these

four words to bless this bruteful mayor edwin m. lee apartments. so we're going to do together. repeat after me. peace. joy. hope. and love. may those four super ingredients of the spirit bless everyone who comes in and out of this place. in chinese, we call it [ speaking foreign language ]. whoever comes in and leaves out with peace. i'm surprising myself. here we go. we have one of the best mayors of this country and -- okay. she can brag for herself. let's welcome the mayor. come on. mayor london breed. >> reverend fong, we thought

you were retired. let me tell you, revrend fong and ccv, madam pelosi who's fighting the good fight every day. we are so very fortunate to have so many amazing champions and i want to thank you all for being here today. this place has manifest itself as a vision. a vision that our former mayor ed lee had to answer the call, the call that was put out to end veteran homelessness in san francisco and in our country. and he stepped up to that call. i remember when i first became mayor going to the auburn hotel and how it really did bring tears to my eyes because of the stories that i heard from so many of the formerly homeless veterans who now had a safe,

affordable place to call home. tomorrow is ed lee's birthday and today we honor him and this place is a testament to his legacy and we want to thank his wife, anita lee for being here today to celebrate. anita's sacrificed so much because her husband was mayor taking care of so many of us. i miss those days of us working together and now it's so important that we continue to move forward with goals that he set to make sure that we build affordable housing in this city, that we build housing and we don't let bureaucracy get in the way. the people that moved here in january 2020, they are counting on us to make good decisions and to move forward and not let

it get in the way of something so spectacular. this place is magical. this courtyard. the formerly homeless veterans who are moving in here, the low income families who now have a place to raise their children, the teen rooms and the centers and the places that they will have to gather and be a community right in the heart of mission bay, this is absolutely extraordinary and there were so many people that made it possible. it basically took a village. it took a village of a lot of money, not just the mayor's office of housing and workforce development. it also took state and federal resources and i want to really first of all thank the state of california veteran affairs. i want to thank the office of community investment here in san francisco. i want to thank the mayor's office of housing and community investment for the plow share

ccdc. and i want to especially thank our speaker nancy pelosi. her advocacy, her work, her tireless effort to support and uplift veterans through the resources for the federal government, it would not have been possible had it not been for her involvement in this project. it would not have gotten done. and then we had just a bit of a shortfall and then the private sector stepped in. juan conway, alex turk, sf cities. they helped to raise $4.5 million to make sure we got this project over the threshold. so many people. it really did take a village. this village has been incredible in pursuing opportunities to build more housing and so we are truly

grateful that we have over 100 families and veterans who were already living here will continue to thrive right here and hopefully who knows maybe attend a warrior game or two. and, with that, i want to thank everyone for joining us here today, have a wonderful day. >> so, mayor and madam speaker, i know you gave me a video message last year when i retired, but i'm back here because i just can't stay away from all that's going on. i'm so honored that you are here and weren't you here when we did the first project with the crowd share. you're always here. she's always making time for

us. so everyone put your hands together and shout out loud! yay, madam speaker! >> peace, joy, hope, love, norman. he's still here, but we're also joined by malcolm as well. malcolm young. thank you to chinatown community development center. the mayor talked about this taking a village and i want to follow up on her very apt theme. and this village is led by mayor london breed. she has been on this housing subject for her whole official life and probably before that on a volunteer basis so many of the things that came to fruition here had their roots

in her work as supervisor and, of course, now as mayor. let's talk about that village, that village that is san francisco. it's a place that has beautiful diversity and that's why this collaboration between our veterans and ccdc is so appropriate. the diversity of san francisco, our strength. i always say our diversity is our strength, our unity is our power. the unity between ccdc and veterans is what has made this a magical, wonderful occasion. in addition to that, the collaboration as the mayor discussed, federal, state, local, private sector, ron conway, john kegger, i see others who have played a role. and, for years, many of us have been involved in low income housing tax credit which has been a root to so much. but it has to be combined with

other things to make this all happen. i also want to just talk for a moment about our veterans. not a moment, but a moment in connection to what's happening in d.c. right now. right now, the secretary of veterans affairs, dennis mcdonald. dennis used to be the president of obama's chief of staff. and as chief of staff, one of his priorities was about homeless veterans. he came out here to make sure that project homeless connect was working for our veterans. he came out here personally only for that purpose and he has been following this issue. so the fact that he is now the secretary of veterans affairs in the biden administration, resurrecting what happened between h.u.d. and veterans affairs administration then

under obama and now resurrected in the biden administration under dennis mcdonald's leadership and marsha the secretary of h.u.d. who has just recently worked with our mayor. so this, again, is all coming together in deep seeded values in our city, our patriotism, our diversity, our respect for other opinions and collaboration, our respect for the public private, nonprofit sectors coming together and recognizing that it doesn't work without all of that. our v.i.p. today will be margie televera and we'll be anxious to hear from her. but i just want to acknowledge all who are finding housing here the mayor said to raise their families, to reach their

own fulfillment, to have their own comfort, that's what this is really about. it's about the public policy to meet the needs of the people and to do so in a way that is, again, collaborative. i know that supervisor matt haney. the masks are throwing me off a little bit. thank you, matt. for your involvement. jason elliott, former chief of staff. so beautiful. again, when we talk about all the things in san francisco, it's about family and here we are to pay tribute to mayor lee. anita is here. anita, thank you for sharing ed lee with us so completely and thank you for honoring us with your presence today. anita and, again, when mayor lee came into office.

he was ready. the jobs he had in the city equipped him to do the job. when mayor london breed came from the board. she came from the board of supervisors, she was ready. she was ready to bring all our communities together. and when we take some pride, it is only possible because we have initiatives of national significance that spring from our community. so, again, an occasion like this, someone will say it's my pleasure to be here today, to pay tribute to every aspect of our great city as we meet the needs of the people. and some other good news is that in our rescue package, there's $17 billion more for

veterans. it wasn't there before. the homeless aspects have not been i talked about collaboration, i talked about community. san francisco which is a great community has the word community in it. i have this pin. it's a flag that has on it one country, one vision. that's what we can say about our city of san francisco. we have a vision of meeting the needs of the people in a way that's respectful of their aspirations as well as our capabilities and we want them to have the biggest aspirations and the best capabilities to meet their needs. so congratulations to anyone who had anything to do with veterans. i can't wait to hear from our

special guest, representative margie of the people who live here. they are truly our v.i.p.s, our very important people. so, yes, it is my pleasure to be here to congratulate everyone but especially to pay respects to anita and our dearly beloved mayor lee. did you say that, norman? did you say something like that. i'm also imitating norman, what can you do. he has so much to say. anyway. thank you for the opportunity to share some thoughts with you congratulations on everything that's happening here and thank you mayor breed for making this possible. san francisco strong. thank you.

>> i don't think i will say i love you, speaker pelosi. all right. next, we have malcolm young, the current director of chinatown d.c., but before he comes up, let me tell you these are tough times and a lot of young folks are saying it's terrible. and even worse, there's a lot more hate going around. so what's the cure? i'm using their language a little bit. the cure is herd immunity and whenever city collaborators come together, we become the neutralizing agents of love to counter that hate. one of the best things on earth was getting to know michael fletcher. everyone pays but to actually

do something, look, 62 years for formerly homeless vets. and, housing for very low income families. let me tell you, herd immunity in action. but a long timer is malcolm young who is now my boss. i was his boss for how many years? okay. but now you're the boss. make us proud. come on up. >> so mayor breed in the back there asked me on the side, are you sure you're the director of this organization. my response to her was not on most days. you know, it's really an honor

and distinct pleasure to be here opening the ed lee apartments in addition to tomorrow being mayor ed lee's birthday. may also marks the month of api heritage month and it also marks affordable housing month. i want to call out the affordable housing month in particular. right here we have a through line of champions from the local to the state to the federal and they've been champions for the entirety of their career. that starts with mayor lee. many people look at mayor lee, but to me one of his most important legacies was how he brought affordable housing into the main stream of san francisco and made it critical for the city to do and he reintroduced that concept to us

and this mayor mayor breed has passed it and now she's incorporating affordable housing into the capital plan make interesting part of the infrastructure which brings us to our next and most amazing champion speaker nancy pelosi also shepherding the infrastructure act in congress that will also incorporate affordable housing into the infrastructure of the nation. i wanted to say it started here in san francisco, mayor breed, your work is resinating throughout the country and speaker pelosi is going to bring us home along with president biden. so thank you for that. all right. now my written remarks. this is where it gets boring. so, first of all, i just want to say thank you to anita for coming up here and being with us. it means more than we can express to you. you know, i just want to say

this building is a testament to mayor lee's legacy. i've always thought as i mentioned before, one of the most critical things mayor lee did was champion affordable housing and i hope you're proud of us and i hope he's proud of us and i want to just thank everybody for that. i want to call out why this building is a particularly good example of that aspect. like ed, this building aspires to bring together diverse populations to bring together a single community. keyly watt told me last night and i want to quote her, veterans and families guarded alongside one another in our community garden. they water plants, they share vegetables. one family has twice donated greens to veterans. the residents have come to look out for each other and sometimes they do it in ways

you wouldn't expect. veteran recently spoke on behalf of an asian family here worrying that the family's garden may have been a target of hate crime and we know that's been an issue this past year. it turned out it was a hate crime. the asian family said it if felt good to have that sense of community where neighbors watch out for each other and that's what we're trying to build here and that's what the residents are moving towards. so thank you keely. she's in the back somewhere because bringing together veterans and families is not the first thing you'd think of whenever you create a community, but san francisco has a track record of bringing together unconventional communities and families pairs with an organization of chinatown to an organization that serves veterans.

who would of ever thought that. but in all seriousness, i want to thank sorts of cloud share. this is the second building that we're working on with them. we're working on the third building on treasure island, but really the thing that i want to say is thank you to the residents here for showing us that this door of these unconventional pairing is worth keeping open for the community that they build. thank you so everyone who supported this project and effort and thank you so much to our leaders for making sure the dream of affordable housing and affordability is going to continue well into the future of this community. thank you. >> earlier michael bleker from source house said "it's like we're married." i just wanted

to say that. but madam speaker wants to introduce you. it's better than me. i always tell tomb jokes. this is unplanned. >> thank you, norman. this is very unplanned and unprecedented that norman would give up the microphone ahead of time. right. here we go. but i really want to say to you what i say to my colleagues in washington, d.c.. this is a model for our nation. i've had to meet the needs of our wets in a way that is personal as well as pragmatic to get the job done. i've appointed michael to the department of veterans affairs commission on care where he brought his deep knowledge of what was needed to take care of our veterans. his courageous disagreement

when necessary to that he was enormous value added. i wanted to see him in action. i started with sorts of cloud share. so i've seen him work with at least four mayors and of course, now with mayor breed. he understands that it all starts with meeting the personal needs of our vets. to recognize the challenges that they have and that when we talk about homeless vets, it's a challenge to our conscience in a very particular way and so when we want to meet their housing needs, we want to deal with it with a particularum of care. and nobody does it better in the country and i meet regularly with the veteran service organization. michael from time to time has been able to join us and every

time he does, it gives me the opportunity to take pride in what he does, take pride in how our city has recognized the value in what he is doing so i appreciate norman giving me the opportunity to say a few words and welcome to the podium, a real american hero source to crowd shares. >> thank you so much. i just want to say this is sort of like a miracle to create this housing and former mayor ed lee said i want to have this. it's just like an asphalt

parking lot and now it's beautiful. the courtyard and everything. this is going to be home for this r them and should they pass away or leave. so the housing stays for veterans and that's part of the magic of this collaboration, the fact that you bring federal subsidies into the city. you bring all these incredible sources, but for investors it's backed up by the public sector so it's a tremendous. but, of course, all the work that goes in and we look forward to future projects all the community networks. it's all part of the deal.

we're all working together on this to make it work. we're kind of that little engine that could. i think we fought the good fight. and part of that's been a big partner with the veteran's administration making sure we protect the veteran's administration as a solid top notch health system that needs to be protected and, if it doesn't, it will be skirted away to private health insurance and we have to stop that and the va's playing a major role. but it all comes down to how do you care for them. we know the veterans from my generation are sicker and

pourer and in worst shape and they need that kind of care. whether it's dropping care. where their needs are. housing. residential treatment beds. we do that. it's crucial outreach that we do. it's ensuring that the emergency hotels that we're active with that and making sure the people that leave the hotels have a place to stay. we like everyone here, we roll our sleeves up and we do the work because that's what we have to do. that's why we have the honor. i appreciate everyone being here and you're all part of this big support. so thanks again. thank you. >> okay.

change of schedule. since we've got the big shot secretary of california department of veteran affairs here, we would like to have vito embossini. you're coming on board right now. hang in there, margie. >> thank you. >> good morning. thank you reverend fong for the introduction. madam speaker, madam mayor and all the guests and community leaders responsible for this project. i'm the secretary of the california department of veterans affairs and i'm here today, may the 4th, there are too many startrek fans. the force is with us. the forces of partnership. the forces of civic

governmental leadership. the forces of community, charity, the forces of philanthropy all here today in this very spot on may the 4th. this is always going to be a great day when we can dedicate new housing for veterans and their families. as we look at this beautiful new facility, the edwin m. lee apartments, i'm looking at much more than a successful completion of a routine construction project. this property is so much more than just architectural drawings and building materials. the windows of these buildings are windows of opportunity for veterans looking to make their path forward more secure. in these ed lee apartments, the walls to them are like burls that will provide sanctuary for veterans who gave so much in their service to the nation. i see roof tops and all of this

is based on firm foundations upon which veterans will not build their future, but flourish in it. these buildings are in essence reflective of the love and respect we share for those who defended our constitution and our freedoms. securing housing for veterans is one of cal vet's core missions which is why i'm so very honored to be here today in addition to advocating for california's 1.6 million veterans, our agency helped to fund this project through our veterans housing and homeless prevention program known as vhhp, a program that we administer in close collaboration with the california department of housing and community development. vhhp helps to fund the development or rehabilitation of affordable multiple family housing for veterans and their families. and whether it is permanent, supportive, or transitional

housing, it comes, all of it, with an emphasis on veterans who are experiencing homelessness or who have extremely low incomes. at a rate of about once a year for five years now, vhhp has awarded more than $357 million to 72 projects all over the state of which this is one contributing to the production of more than 4,700 housing units throughout california, over 2,500 of which are specifically reserved for veterans but still, our work is by no means done. and we still have a long way to go. over 1,000 veterans experience homelessness on any given day. even though our veterans here only account for 4% of our state population. and what's more distressing,

california alone has a quarter of the nation's homeless veterans and over one half of the nation's total unsheltered veterans. so clearly providing a roof and four walls is a great start, but it doesn't completely resolve the issue of homelessness in the long term. we now know what's required to give veterans housing stability, a sense of community, a sense of compassion and the necessary services delivered in a culturally competent matter to support veterans as they address the issues that contributed to their homelessness and that's why we're so proud and delighted to support crowd shares. their work in providing services and housing to veterans over the last 40 years is a testament and commitment to the dedication to their entire staff.

furthermore, the support of their development partners in this project, chinatown community development center and the city of san francisco and several other cities over the years have benefited countless lives and i believe mayor lee would be very proud on how this undertaking turned out. so i leave you with this. this dedication ceremony could only happen because so many of you dedicated your time, your efforts, and your hearts to make these walls of sanctuary, these windows of opportunity, these roof tops of protection, the foundation of so many solid and promising futures. thank you. >> okay.

wow. get ready for the video. we are honored to have margie televera to come up and share her story living here. she's a vet and she lives here. she's going to share her story, but there's going to be a video first. i always wanted to say this. one, two, three, hit it. >> when i was able to move here, i thought i won the lotto. it's brand new. i was like i'm the first person in that. that's a big deal for me. once i was living in my car and often living on couches. that is difficult when you're independent female. you're saying thank you because you're not in the street, but it breaks your heart. >> i spent eight years

homeless, i guess. in and out of homeless. my mother says i wasn't homeless, i just wouldn't be still, but i was homeless because i was in shelters. i was tired. physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually tired. and this place is beautiful. i couldn't believe it for awhile. >> you can't underestimate the value of safe housing for people. i think you've seen that on both sides of the chinatown community. what we've given people here and what they've given us is a sense of belonging. we're starting to see friendships, people starting to get to know each other. >> when the children come in the courtyard when they're laughing, it just makes you feel good. so i always work out and i see them playing. >> we were tasked with building community when we first opened here. one day a week. one of the veterans

volunteered. so if you cook a meal, you're starting to take a leadership role however small in the community. the chinatown community development center offered grants for artists. so the very first person whose piece isn't finished is randal larson. he did a piece that involved the community. one that started is a leather worker. all of these things have a huge impact. the environment being a catalyst for them to start thinking about change that they perhaps didn't think was possible for them. >> when i lived in the shelters, i didn't feel safe, you know, sleeping. but then to come back home, that's beautiful and it's peaceful. i have a peaceful mind. >> i just look around and say "i'm okay." that's a great feeling. i wake up, i'm okay because i

know when i go to bed i'm okay and when i wake up it's like i told you. it's this great feeling. everyone should have that. >> to find that you can be stable and actually mattering to the world, it's happening because you're living in this place. we're starting to see how communities built. veterans are reaching out to each other and when ed m. lee apartments is a place of hope and peace and you can't underestimate any one of those factors in the success of this place in just one year. [applause] >> okay. margie. give it up for margie. i forgot your dog's name? is it bear? >> "little bear." >> hi everybody.

little bear. yes. i heard 17 billion and i went, "oh, wow." yes. let me say first, this is beauty. this is what i see every day from that window and it makes me feel good. i live in an apartment that's brand new. i'm safe and i'm happy. i represent the veterans here and i live with families as well. this is our hamlet and management here looks out for us and encourages us to communicate with each other and become part of society again. coming from the streets into a new apartment can take awhile to get used to.

but to know that now i can make my own breakfast. i can get up when i want. i can sleep when i want. and i feel safe. that's huge. do you know what it's like when someone rings your doorbell now? i'm sure you all know and you go, "hey, come on in." a lot of people take that for granted. now, for us, man, my sister, "come on in." i couldn't do that before. so san francisco, edwin lee, just the name of this place should indicate to you how great this is. i remember him. he would smile all the time and if you saw him on the street, he would go like this all the time. and i remember he used to always talk about building the

city up and he would tell us that and he was always smiling. well, look, look at this. if you want to know who san francisco is, what san francisco is, this is san francisco. diversity, family, looking out for each other. it is about working together. it is a struggle, but this is a picture of beauty. this is peace. this is ours and this is yours. welcome to our home. don't be a stranger. >> you almost made me cry. bye, little bear. all right. wow. i love it. passion. hope. joy when we need it most. we have anita, mrs. lee, ed's

partner in life, and just to let you know, she's going to just say a few words, more if you want. but she drove all the way up -- okay. andrew drove six hours, you went fast, to be here with us. let's welcome her with a big hand. mrs. anita lee. this is for you. i just got it. >> okay. thank you all for being here today. i have to look. okay. we are all honored that this project has beared some memory of ed. affordable housing was his passion and i know this would

have meant so much to him. thank you so much. >> now you got the flowers. we're supposed to sing happy birthday. we need all your help. camera people too. we'll sing happy birthday to mayor lee, okay ed lee. ♪ happy birthday to you happy birthday to you happy birthday dear ed lee happy birthday to you ♪♪ >> thank you. i think this is a time for question and answers. i'm not going to answer them. who's coming up to answer them? change of schedule.

i'm flexible. >> madam speaker wants to cut the ribbon. >> okay. all right. >> are we ready? margie, you ready? let's do this. five, four, three, two, one! yes!

>> restaurants will be open for take out only, but nonessential stores, like bars and gyms, will close effective midnight tonight. [♪♪♪]

>> my name is sharky laguana. i am a small business owner. i own a company called vandigo van rentals. it rents vans to the music industry. i am also a member of the small business commission as appointed by mayor breed in 2019. i am a musician and have worked as a professional musician and recording artist in the 90s. [♪♪♪] >> we came up in san francisco, so i've played at most of the live venues as a performer, and, of course, i've seen hundreds of shows over the years, and i care very, very

deeply about live entertainment. in fact, when i joined the commission, i said that i was going to make a particular effort to pay attention to the arts and entertainment and make sure that those small businesses receive the level of attention that i think they deserve. >> this is a constantly and rapidly changing situation, and we are working hard to be aggressive to flatten the curve to disrupt the spread of covid-19. >> when the pandemic hit, it was crystal clear to me that this was devastating to the music industry because live venues had to completely shutdown. there was no way for them to open for even a single day or in limited capacity. that hit me emotionally as an artist and hit me professionally, as well as a small business that caters to

artists, so i was very deeply concerned about what the city could do to help the entertainment committee. we knew we needed somebody to introduce some kind of legislation to get the ball rolling, and so we just started texting supervisor haney, just harassing him, saying we need to do something, we need to do something. he said i know we need to do something, but what do we do? we eventually settled on this idea that there would be an independent venue recovery fund. >> clerk: there are 11 ayes. >> president walton: thank you. without objection, this resolution is passed unanimously. >> and we were concerned for these small mom-and-pop businesses that contribute so much to our arts community.

>> we are an extremely small venue that has the capacity to do extremely small shows. most of our staff has been working for us for over ten years. there's very little turnover in the staff, so it felt like family. sharky with the small business commission was crucial in pestering supervisor haney and others to really keep our industry top of mind. we closed down on march 13 of 2020 when we heard that there was an order to do so by the mayor, and we had to call that show in the middle of the night. they were in the middle of their sound check, and i had to call the venue and say, we need

to cancel the show tonight. >> the fund is for our live music and entertainment venues, and in its first round, it will offer grants of at least $10,000 to qualifying venues. these are venues that offer a signature amount of live entertainment programming before the pandemic and are committed to reopening and offering live entertainment spaces after the pandemic. >> it's going to, you know, just stave off the bleeding for a moment. it's the city contributing to helping make sure these venues are around, to continue to be part of the economic recovery for our city. >> when you think about the venues for events in the city, we're talking about all of them. some have been able to come back adaptively over the last year and have been able to be shape shifters in this pandemic, and that's exciting

to see, but i'm really looking forward to the day when events and venues can reopen and help drive the recovery here in san francisco. >> they have done a study that says for every dollar of ticket sales done in this city, $12 goes to neighboring businesses. from all of our vendors to the restaurants that are next to our ven sues and just so many other things that you can think of, all of which have been so negatively affected by covid. for this industry to fail is unthinkable on so many levels. it's unheard of, like, san francisco without its music scene would be a terribly dismal place. >> i don't know that this needs to be arrest -- that there needs to be art welfare for artists. we just need to live and pay

for our food, and things will take care of themselves. i think that that's not the given situation. what san francisco could do that they don't seem to do very much is really do something to support these clubs and venues that have all of these different artists performing in them. actually, i think precovid, it was, you know, don't have a warehouse party and don't do a gig. don't go outside, and don't do this. there was a lot of don't, don't, don't, and after the pandemic, they realized we're a big industry, and we bring a lot of money into this city, so they need to encourage and hope these venues. and then, you know, as far as people like me, it would be nice if you didn't only get encouraged for only singing opera or playing violin. [♪♪♪] >> entertainment is a huge part of what is going to make this

city bounce back, and we're going to need to have live music coming back, and comedy, and drag shows and everything under the sun that is fun and creative in order to get smiles back on our faces and in order to get the city moving again. [♪♪♪] >> venues serve a really vital function in society. there aren't many places where people from any walk of life, race, religion, sexuality can come together in the same room and experience joy, right? experience love, experience anything that what makes us human, community, our connective tissues between different souls. if we were to lose this, lose

this situation, you're going to lose this very vital piece of society, and just coming out of the pandemic, you know, it's going to help us recover socially? well, yeah, because we need to be in the same room with a bunch of people, and then help people across the country recover financially. >> san francisco art recovery fund, amazing. it opened yesterday on april 21. applications are open through may 5. we're encouraging everyone in the coalition to apply. there's very clear information on what's eligible, but that's basically been what our coalition has been advocating for from the beginning. you know, everyone's been supportive, and they've all been hugely integral to this program getting off the ground. you know, we found our champion with supervisor matt haney from district six who introduced this legislation and pushed this into law. mayor breed dedicated

$1.5 million this fund, and then supervisor haney matched that, so there's $3 million in this fund. this is a huge moment for our coalition. it's what we've been fighting for all along. >> one of the challenges of our business is staying on top of all the opportunities as they come back. at the office of oewd, office of economic and workforce development, if you need to speak to somebody, you can find people who can help you navigate any of the available programs and resources. >> a lot of blind optimism has kept us afloat, you know, and there's been a lot of reason for despair, but this is what keeps me in the business, and this is what keeps me fighting, you know, and continuing to advocate, is that we need this and this is part of our life's

blood as much as oxygen and food is. don't lose heart. look at there for all the various grants that are available to you. some of them might be very slow to unrao, and it might seem like too -- unroll, and it might seem like it's too late, but people are going to fight to keep their beloved venues open, and as a band, you're going to be okay. [♪♪♪] 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. >> going places in san francisco anymore. [applause] >> the hon. london breed: oh, hello. oh, my goodness. sorry to keeve