Supervisor Jake McGoldrick: Closing this Year's Budget

The beginning of summer marked the beginning of the budget frenzy, whereby the mayor cut many vital social service programs and the SF Board of Supervisors' Budget Committee worked to restore them, finally restoring $16 million.

In committee, I dissented on the budget because more than $6 million in cuts were yet to be restored. Violence prevention programs for youth, after-school summer programs and youth employment programs were not yet fully funded. The Senior Emergency Grocery Bag program and at home nursing for the medically indigent remained at a level that barely sustained such populations. And there was no cost of living adjustment to raise the living wage from $10.25 to $10.50 for In Home Supportive Services workers and other service providers.

Up until the budget proposal's final passage, my office continued to work for more restorations. As a result, the above cuts were restored. The final budget package included almost $24 million worth of restorations, with most of the benefits spread citywide.

The Richmond District received funds for after school programs, youth employment programs and an additional gardener. Funding for the SF Planning Department to implement a community input process for better neighborhoods planning was also established.

Better Neighborhoods Plus
I have been crafting legislation called "Better Neighborhoods Plus," which is my best effort to set up a neighborhood planning process that is informed by the affected community where, by and large, no process exists.

Witness Rincon Hill, a large development project of luxury high rises and condominiums that will change San Francisco's skyscape forever. The South of Market neighborhoods got little chance to weigh in on the impacts of this new development. Other neighborhoods have also experienced development plans that have been adopted with little or no community oversight. This has resulted in the development of neighborhoods that lack the necessary community infrastructure.

On the other hand, other developments, such as the Market/Octavia project, did take into consideration community input. The result is a well-planned area that is getting rave reviews.

"Better Neighborhoods Plus" takes the positive aspects of the Market/Octavia model and goes further by codifying a process in which the Planning Department must seek community input. The end result will be development with greater public consensus and broader acceptance.

As a result of this legislation, if the Planning Department decides to create any new neighborhood plans, they must learn from the affected community what the needs of the neighborhood are and what the impacts of potential new development may be. Public participation will guide the types of public improvements that will be developed for a particular neighborhood.

For more information, visit www.sfgov.org/site/planning_index.asp, to get a copy of this legislation along with a case report. There will be public hearings at the SF Planning Commission Aug. 4 and Aug. 11. The Planning Commission hearings may continue into September. Hearings will also be held at the Board of Supervisors' Land Use Committee some time in September.

Jake McGoldrick is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 1.