Supervisor Ed Jew: Update on District Affairs

Budget Season Begins
Many readers of this paper may wonder why I, along with supervisors Michela Alioto-Pier, Sean Elsbernd and Geraldo Sandoval, opposed Supervisor Chris Daly's recent $28 million supplemental appropriation for a variety of affordable housing programs.

You should know, first of all, that this "surplus" from the current year's budget is not left over money that needs to be spent - it is desperately needed money that is intended for necessities in next year's budget, which takes effect July 1.

The mayor has already instructed city departments to cut back next year's budget by 3 percent. With the passage of this budget supplemental, city departments will be instructed to cut back an additional 3 percent.

This City is already far too short of police officers, gardeners and bus drivers. While prudent taxpayers could argue that departmental restructuring and civil service reforms could put more of these front line employees on the street, the current situation demands fiscal prioritizing if important services are to be maintained at acceptable levels.

Some supervisors believe this money needs to go to affordable housing because the taxpayers have twice, in recent years, turned down the opportunity to pay more property taxes intended for housing bonds.

In other words, just like the two voter mandates to keep Golden Gate Park open on Saturdays that were ignored, if the taxpayers of San Francisco decide that housing bond money could be better spent, the SF Board of Supervisors will take away money from vital services to compensate for not winning voter approval and spend it on housing, anyway.

Of course we need affordable housing, but a last-minute budget raid is not the way to get it. I was particularly puzzled that the $28 million request contained $5 million for the Housing Authority, an agency that spends money so badly that former Mayor Art Agnos has just been named its court-appointed receiver for the purpose of forcing the agency to pay its bills. There are no strings attached to the $5 million - it is basically a blank check.

I don't spend my money this way and I'll bet you don't either. Had these housing appropriation proposals been permitted to undergo the normal budget process, the board and the public would have had the opportunity to talk about these things, and replace them or change them into ideas that make sense. Unfortunately, this move is only a sad preview of the annual budget process to come.

When the mayor submits his budget to the board around the end of May, look for the board to redirect even more money for services intended for streets, parks and public safety.

District 4 Open House
Many thanks to Benny Yee and Happy Donuts for hosting our second District 4 open house on April 19 - I had the opportunity to talk to more than 30 people and I'm busy following up on your suggestions.

Our next open house will be hosted by the Cafe Bakery at 1365 Noriega St. (cross is 21st Avenue), on Thursday, May 17, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Merchant Matters
The Outer Sunset Merchants Association will be hosting a sidewalk sale on Saturday, May 5.

In celebration of Small Business Week, San Francisco is waiving the permit fees for small businesses to participate in these neighborhood-serving events throughout the City.

My office held a press conference on Noriega Street for the Chinese media in April to explain and educate Chinese merchants on the importance of posting all signs in both English and Chinese, both in terms of good business practices and being a good neighbor.

Public Safety
A fatal fire on Sloat Boulevard in April was the fifth fatal fire in three months where smoke detectors were either not there, or not working.

I am particularly concerned that seniors may not have working smoke detectors in their homes. The SF Fire Department tells us that seniors account for 40 percent of all residential fire fatalities.

The SF Fire Department currently has a grant-funded Fire and Fall Prevention program for senior home safety. They coordinate the efforts of volunteers, who install smoke detectors, free of charge, in the homes of San Francisco seniors.

The program ends in late August, but we encourage you to call them now at 558-3312 if you are a senior, or know of a senior, who needs smoke detectors.

Traffic Improvements
The SF Department of Public Works recent newsletter reports that Quintara Street, from 27th Avenue to the Great Highway, and 29th Avenue, from Lincoln Way to Judah Street, and Lincoln, from Third Avenue to 36th Avenue, are all scheduled to be repaved in 2007.

Ed Jew is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 4.