Supervisor Eric Mar: City Hall Update

Save the Date! District 1 Budget Town Hall Meeting with Mayor Lee
Please join me, Richmond District leaders and neighbors for a discussion with Mayor Ed Lee about the City's proposed budget for the upcoming year, which will be held on April 27, from 6 - 7:30 p.m., at a location TBA. For more information, please contact my office at (415) 554-7410 or check the Board of Supervisors' budget information website at www.sfbos.org/index.aspx?page=1314.

Zoning Changes on Geary and Clement
I recently introduced the first of several zoning changes I will be proposing for Geary Boulevard and the Clement Neighborhood Commercial District. In March, I introduced an ordinance prohibiting formula retail pet supply stores on Geary Boulevard, between 14th and 28th avenues.

One of the many things that make the Richmond District such a wonderful place is the diverse character of our small businesses; there are five such small pet supply businesses along this area, and I believe the zoning will support their success.

Other upcoming changes I will be introducing in April are a 5 foot height increase along Geary to incentivize development of underused properties, and more flexibility for permitted uses and uses that require conditional approval to make it easier for businesses to open up along both Geary and Clement. Once introduced, any proposed zoning changes will go to the SF Planning Department to be reviewed by staff and the SF Planning Commission, before coming back for a hearing at the Land Use Committee and a vote before the full Board of Supervisors. ÊPublic input will be crucial. Look for updates on these proposals, as well as information on upcoming hearings at the Planning Commission and the Board, in this column.

Local Hiring
A strong coalition of community groups and San Francisco's Board of Supervisors made history in December by passing a new local hiring law (the strongest in the country), which will ensure that workers from our neighborhoods will be hired in much higher numbers for most public construction projects. The ordinance, sponsored by supervisors John Avalos, David Campos, Ross Mirkarimi, Chris Daly and myself, went into effect on March 25. The law will be phased in over a three-year period with a mandatory requirement that a significant portion of San Francisco's publicly funded construction jobs, 50 percent after three years, must be allocated to San Francisco residents. The ordinance only applies to public works or improvement projects, and only for contracts above $400,000. It applies to the major city projects, but smaller construction jobs will be exempt.

This will help ensure many San Francisco workers will have better access to good jobs. Because a tremendous amount of money is being invested in public infrastructure in San Francisco - $27 billion over the next decade - this is the prime time when the City can steadily invest in its workers and neighborhoods to boost the local economy.

As I reported in last month's column, the new Fresh & Easy and CVS opening on Clement later this year have signed a first source hiring agreement with the City. San Francisco residents interested in jobs can contact the One Stop Career Link Center at (415) 575-4570.

Golden Gate Park News
On March 14, I sponsored a hearing to discuss Segways at Golden Gate Park. The Segway vendor, users and pedestrian advocates came to voice differing perspectives on how Segways, pedestrians and users of other vehicles can all utilize the paths at Golden Gate Park. I will be forwarding the public input my office received to the SF Recreation and Park Department.

I am also co-sponsoring Supervisor Avalos' legislation to repeal the new out-of-town Botanical Garden fees, as I believe they ultimately hurt small businesses, particularly restaurants in the Richmond and Sunset districts.

Women's History Month
In recognition of Women's History month in March, the Board of Supervisors honored Richmond District resident Letician Alcantar with a commendation.

Alcantar has had a long and accomplished career as an attorney and philanthropist in the areas of environmental justice, racial justice and youth. As an attorney with Consumer's Union and the Berkeley Environmental Law Clinic, Alcantar represented low-income communities disproportionately affected by toxic waste and advocated on behalf of low-income communities in the areas of health and environmental justice.

During her grant-making career, Alcantar developed and managed various funding initiatives that led to millions of grant dollars being channeled towards youth development and organizing environmental, economic and racial justice initiatives in poor neighborhoods in the Bay Area and throughout California, including developing and providing funding for the Bayview Hunters Point Community Fund, Native Communities Fund and the California Fund for Youth Organizing. Thank you Leticia, on behalf of the Richmond District!

Coffee hour with Eric Mar will be on April 21, at 6 p.m., at the Garden House Cafe, 3117 Clement St. Come meet with me and other Richmond District residents and share what's on your mind.

Please feel free to contact our office anytime at Eric.L.Mar@sfgov.org or (415) 554-7410.

San Francisco Supervisor Eric Mar represents District 1.