Supervisor Jake McGoldrick: Trash Receptacles, Budget, Locks

Missing trash receptacles
In response to dozens of calls from constituents, I had a hearing in the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee last month to discuss the removal of litter receptacles in San Francisco.

A total of 304 litter receptacles were removed citywide, 49 of them from the Richmond District. Most of the receptacles removed from the Richmond District were from Geary Boulevard.

This is very disturbing because there was no public process around the removal of these cans and no consultation with the SF Board of Supervisors. Geary Boulevard is a bustling commercial district with a large amount of pedestrian traffic and I believe that we need these litter receptacles to keep it clean.

At the hearing, I requested that the SF Department of Public Works (DPW) replace these receptacles and go through a public process if they want to proceed removing them. Members of the Board of Supervisors do not have the authority to demand that these receptacles be replaced. Only the mayor can order their return. Therefore, DPW has no obligation to honor my request.

If you believe that the receptacles should be replaced, please contact my office and let me know the exact location where the receptacle is missing. Hopefully, with demand from the public, we will get our litter receptacles back.

New budget OK'd
A new fiscal year began with the passage of the 2007/2008 budget. Highlights of San Francisco's new budget, which the Board of Supervisors passed last month, includes improvements to Muni, street quality, homeless programs and public safety.

The Richmond District also scored a few bucks for some very worthy causes.

First off, funds were allocated to the Richmond District Neighborhood Center on 30th Avenue to provide services for young adults and programs for seniors. For more information about the programs that the Richmond District Neighborhood Center provides, visit them at: www.rdnc.org, or call (415) 751-6600.

Funds were also allocated to the SF Recreation and Park Department for some much-needed reforestation along Park Presidio Boulevard. Reforestation means removing older trees that are likely at the end of their life and replacing them with young trees. Reforestation is extremely important to ensure Park Presidio Boulevard remains a green and lush environment, protecting residents from noise and harmful emissions from the volume of vehicles that use the thoroughfare.

Also, the west side of the City will now receive services from the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) thanks to an increase in funding.

The HOT team functions as an "on the ground" short-term intensive case management and outreach team serving San Francisco's chronically homeless population. The team establishes relationships with street homeless who are suffering from physical disabilities, mental health problems and/or addiction issues, and works to move them into treatment, shelter and, as it becomes available, permanent housing.

The team is composed of clinical, paraprofessional and administrative staff from Community Awareness & Treatment Services (CATS) and the SF Department of Public Health. The team currently consists of 15 outreach case managers, one nurse practitioner, a part-time physician, four social workers and two administrative staff. If you know of homeless individuals that are in need of services in the Richmond District, call 311 or the Mayors Office of Neighborhood Services at 554-7111, and a member of the HOT team will assist.

Also, the stables in Golden Gate Park received some funding for its renovation in this year's budget. I hope to be able to secure more funding with the anticipated passage of legislation I have sponsored, which aims to set up a matching program with the City and private donations. With this legislation the City will match one dollar for every three dollars donated from private funds.

If you are interested in attending the meeting when this legislation will be discussed, call my office at (415) 554-7410.

Re-key those locks!
Last month, I sponsored legislation that requires landlords to replace individual unit door locks after a residential unit has been vacated. This legislative idea came to my office from constituents in the Richmond District who had been robbed due to previous tenants who retained their key after vacating their unit. This legislation is aimed at protecting tenants and landlords and promoting general safety in San Francisco.

Jake McGoldrick is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 1.