Supervisor Jake McGoldrick: Homelessness, Stables, Rossi

Westside Neighbors to End Homelessness
For the last couple of years, a group of neighbors has been giving their time to work on the homeless problem in the west side of the City, a part of the City that is not recognized as having homeless problems.

For those of us who live here and see firsthand the people living on Geary Boulevard and Clement Street, nesting in Golden Gate Park under bridges and in shrubs, and living in their vehicles, we know that homelessness is a problem.

The west side of the City needs services to help these people and restore the quality of life to everyone who lives in the Richmond. This group of neighbors call themselves the Westside Neighbors to End Homelessness. They are a diverse and caring group of neighbors who are dedicated to ending this decades-old problem.

This year, funds have been dedicated to the Human Services Agency to expand the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) to the west side of the City, but we still need to work to make sure that the neighborhoods and beach areas are served, not just Golden Gate Park. The HOT team is based out of downtown and works to connect homeless individuals with services and housing.

I am working to secure $100,000 to help fund a community homeless outreach and service program for the west side, based on the very successful North Beach Citizens model. A major focus would be getting mentally ill homeless people into care.

If you would like more information about the Westside Neighbors to End Homelessness or would like to volunteer, call (415) 287-7480 or visit www.westsideneighbors-sf.org.

San Francisco Stables
Since 2001, the beloved Golden Gate Park Equestrian Center, built in 1909, has been closed due to much-needed repairs and renovation. The center was scheduled to open 18 months later, but was stalled for years when the SF Recreation and Park Department (RPD) discovered that the stables were historic and needed to undergo a complete and costly Environmental Impact Report.

The report was stalled until December of 2006 and is scheduled for completion this fall. In an effort to help re-open the center, I have introduced legislation that will set up a matching funds program between the City and private donations. For every $3 of private donations that are received, the City will match $1. This program is set to begin in January 2008.

The stables will offer wonderful opportunities to Bay Area residents, especially youth and people with special needs. I believe that this will greatly benefit the Richmond District due to the amount of families that reside here and the continuing need for programs, especially in the summer, for kids.

The Equestrian Center is scheduled to open in late 2009.

For more information about the project, visit the Web site at www.parks.sfgov.org/wcm_recpark/Capital/ProjectStatus/GGPEquestrianC.pdf.

Rossi Playground Opening
I am pleased that the Rossi Playground renovation is complete and open to the public.

I attended a groundbreaking event organized by the Recreation and Park Department in late May, where hundreds of families and residents came to celebrate on this joyous and highly anticipated occasion. I was able to secure $1.2 million in fiscal year 2003/2004 to ensure that this playground would be prioritized for building.

With the help of the Friends of Rossi Playground, the Francisco Civic Improvement Association, neighbors who donated their time and money to making this playground happen and the Recreation and Park Department staff, this playground is ready for summer. The playground also has a beautiful and colorful mosaic bench with a butterfly designed by Sarah Dorrance. The structure was built by Luis Hernandez and is called "Mission Blue," which is the name of a local endangered butterfly.

This is a very special piece because it was commissioned by a neighbor of Rossi Playground, Cherie Golant and her husband Ron Gutierrez, in memory of their daughter, Julia.

Another special and unique feature of Rossi Playground is the brick donor circle, which includes the names of the community members who donated money to make Rossi Playground a reality.

Jake McGoldrick is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 1.