City and County of San Francisco Tuesday, September 15, 2015
This is a test. >> good afternoon everybody. Welcome to the san francisco
board of supervisors meeting of September 15, 2015.
Madam Clerk, can you please call the roll?
>> Madam President.
Supervisor avalos. Supervisor breed, supervisor
campos, supervisor christensen,
supervisor cohen, supervisor
farrell, supervisor kim,
supervisor mar, supervisor tang,
supervisor wiener, supervisor yee. Madam President, all members are present. >> thank you, ladies and
gentlemen can you please join us
in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge of allegiance, to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all. >> thank you. >> thank you.
Madam Clerk, are there any communications?
>> I have none today Madam President. >> okay, Madam Clerk, can you
please call the first item? >> yes the first item of business is the policy discussion between the honorable
mayor edwin lee and the board of supervisors. The mayor May proud additional
remarks up to five minutes.
The mayor May recognize supervisor christensen.
There maybe followed up questions asked. >> thank you very much, welcome mayor ed lee.
Do you have opening remarks at this time? >> I do.
Thank you again President Breed
and supervisors and guests to our city hall. Supervisors welcome back from your recess. I know you're all eager to get to work.
I like to use my time to talk about how we are working
everyday to keep our city more affordable.
That's our laser focus on housing, housing that's
affordable to low and middle income families.
We are using this time of
prosperity in our city to make
sure every resident benefits. We have already together, raised
the minimum wage for our city.
We've made muny free for low income kids for seniors and
people with disabilities. We've invested in our public
schools, the great equalizer to
make sure our kids succeed. By providing affordable housing
to low income families is an essential part of our affordability challenge that we must solve.
Even though we have a housing
crisis that's decades in the
making, we must act decisively together now to make sure that
families stay in their homes and
get access to an affordable one.
That's why last year, 2014, I
announced a pretty aggressive
housing plan.
Build and rehabilitate 30,000 homes by 2020 making sure it's affordable to low income family
and to middle income family. We're making sure this progress
with the most housing we've ever seen built in our cities since
the great earthquake.
We need to do more.
That's why last week we launched
a blueprint to build an
additional 10,000 homes. More than 10,000.
While we set the ambitious goal
of 10,000 affordable homes, with
this package of legislation for
the first time, we have a clear blueprint to meet and I believe
that we will exceed, the goal of
10,000 affordable units by 2020. We're working together, the
board and the mayor, championing
legislative package of five key
policies and programs that will
help us reach our affordable housing goals.
We are together fixing public housing.
No more poverty housing but we'll rehab one thousand foreign
and public housing units in 15 different sites in just phase
one of our public housing rehab. We're giving existing residents the priority for affordable
homes built in their communities through our neighborhood preference program.
We're helping tenants who lost
their homes to an eviction or no fault eviction. Who had to leave below market
rate with a displaced tenants preference.
My thanks to supervisors christensen to breed and cohen
and all the supervisors for your
support on this legislation. We are revamping our
inclusionary housing program by incentivizing developers to provide affordable units
alongside market rate units.
I along with supervisors farrell will introduce legislation today
to create more 100% affordable housing developments entirely
funded by the private sector and incentivize developers to provide affordable units at a greater range of income levels
under private projects.
For the first time in our city's history this package will help us to secure housing for families and rent controlled
units and stabilize the rent at
permanently affordable levels. Finally, we are incentivizing developers to build projects
that have low income, middle
income and market rate ones side
by side with our affordable housing bonus program.
I'm excited about the package of legislation that will be introduced today and hopefully
we will all work together to
make sure that we ramp up our affordable housing production
with our city's resources and with the private sector investment.
If we talk about homes, we need to talk about homelessness.
I'm eager to get to supervisor christensen's question. >> thank you Mr. Mayor.
Now I like to recognize the
supervisor from district three.
Supervisor julie christensen. >> Mr. Mayor, good afternoon.
I thought today will be a good
opportunity to look at the homelessness issues. I know it affect all the district.
Our count of homeless persons is up 27% in district three.
There's been some talk about impending celebrations that might be occurring. But this is a day-to-day fact for a lot of folks in the district. i thought this would be an opportunity to talk about how
your office is addressing the issue specifically in our district. Thank you. >> thank you supervisor christensen. You've asked a question that's been on my mind everyday.
On the minds of all san franciscans. I'm sure each of your colleagues the same thing.
As we all try to offer hope to
people who are living on our streets.
Because of smart investments, there's no doubt our city changed many lives for the better.
In fact, through housing or family reunification, the city has helped more than 19,000
people leave the streets with
nearly 11,000 move into supportive housing since 2004.
We are making progress in better serving homeless veterans. Families and youth.
In fact, we expect and we will end chronic homelessness for veterans in san francisco by the end of this year. We'll continue to make progress
on family homelessness and youth. However, even with the strongest social safety net that we've all worked together and I think
we're proud of it here in san francisco, we know that we must do more because we still have too many homeless people suffering on our streets and too
many people unable to make the choices they need to save their
own lives because of mental health and substance abuse.
We have relaunched the homeless
outreach team with over 55
members to directly engage with
people on the streets and give direct care.
We have integrated a 311 reservation system for shelter beds so no one has to wait in
long lines to get shelter. We're using innovative
approaches like rapid rehousing, reversing an historic spike in
family member -- homelessness and cutting the shelter wait list by more than 50er%.
I worked with many of you on these investments.
The one I'm most excited about is our innovative navigation center.
We started nearly five months
ago and have already helped 200 people homeless san francisco
cans change their lives. We're committed to continuing
this model and increasing it and multipling it. Many have joined me last week
when we announced an additional
$3 million to double down on our
efforts to serve street homeless residents after an anonymous donor got the center going. We can't do it alone.
We will need more donors.
I join the supervisors to ask
the private sector to step up is
we can continue to intake new clients, provide meals, safe shelter and connect homeless
people with social services.
That's why we're starting the navigation partnership's fund.
This will raise hopefully
another $3 million or more and
it will be deposited into the fund with a controllers office. We know there is much hard work
in front of us to solve this. I'm willing to work with the
board to make sure that we have
a more robust answer to the mental health and behavorial challenges.
I look forward to working with you supervisor and each the supervisors to making sure we're working together to create and
continue our focus on this homelessness problem in san francisco. Thank you. >> thank you.
Thank you Mr. Their for being -- mayor for being here today.
At this time, we're going to
move on to the consent agenda.
Madam Clerk read the consent agenda.
>> items 2 through 5 comprised consent agenda.
If a member objects, an item
maybe removed and considered separately. >> seeing no names on the roster.
christensen -- there are 11 ayes >> these items are finally
passed and approved unanimously.
Madam Clerk, item number six. >> to clarify that the affordable housing program applies to housing projects including group housing projects. Changing certain requirements and certain circumstances to
allow affordable on sight units
in group housing projects. For on sight units in group housing projects to be priced
75% of the maximum purchase
price for studio units.
To clarify the requirements for designated units in certain
district, under section 124f to affirm the planning department
and to make other appropriate findings.
>> colleagues can we take that item? Without objection, this
ordinance is passed unanimously. Item seven. >> to require the sheriff and the police department to gather
and regularly report data regarding detention and traffic stops. >> same house same call.
This ordinance is finally passed unanimously.
>> item eight please. To amend the administrative code
to rename the disasterry recovery fund.
To designated as a category eight fund and specify how the
city May use the fund. >> supervisor tang.
>> thank you President Breed. Today we have legislation before us.
As you know, currently we have a
san francisco disaster recovery fund. Today this legislation will be
amending it, not only is it for
disaster recovery but for emergency perches. In particular, my intention for
this legislation is to that we
can expeditiously provide
funding if there is an emergency situation in san francisco quickly, these are funds specifically from private donor who decide they would like to donate money to the city for particular purposes. We would also be expanding the fund to include four categories.
one would designate they would
like to donate money for infrastructure and repair replacement for emergency
housing or for helping animals.
If you don't designate the city administrator's office will be responsible for determining the allocation of the funds.
In budget committee, we had
amended the legislation so that
not only is the city
administrator's office and the controller's office completing a report as to how much funds we are getting and how we're spending the funds, they would have to submit an annual report
to both the mayor and the board
of supervisors regarding the use
of the funds. The controllers office shall
include the disaster and emergency response in its quarterly budget status report. The overall extension of this
legislation is to allow us as a
city to be able to obtain funds from private donors in the event
of an emergency for quicker disaster recovery.
But also for emergency response
and to not have to go through a
board process in order to do ho. Often times we need to be able to provide funding quickly. This is what this legislation is intended to do.
To date, we have only received $546 comprising 19 donations.
That is between November 2011 and July 2013. To date, no expenditures have been made from this fund.
We hope that by changing the way the fund is structured, that we're able to better be ready to
accept private donations and to
help those in need during a time of emergency.
with that colleagues, I hope you will support the legislation as is.
We have controllers office staff here ready to answer any questions you May have.
I know there May have been some concerns about transparency and how we're spending the funds.
I do want to give our deputy city controller an opportunity
to speak to that. If that's okay?
>> yes. >> good afternoon, todd, from deputy controller.
I like to wish you a happy national disaster preparedness month. The month of September.
The item before you today as highlighted by supervisor tang,
is really a piece of legislation that does go to the next step as
far as being prepared and
responsive as well as recovery efforts.
Much like you've already done in your legislation for chapter 21
as well as chapter 6 for public works contracting. This is the compliment on the private donation side. If there are particular questions, I will be happy to answer there.
There are the additional reporting in transparency items mentioned by supervisor tang
with the quarterly reporting
back to you. >> thank you.
Supervisor tang is there anything else?
Thank you supervisor yee.
>> thank you very much. Appreciate supervisor tang's legislation here to make it
easier for people to help on the emergency situation.
while I support the intended resolution, san francisco being
prepared in case of an emergency.
I also understand that -- as
supervisor tang mentioned -- there hasn't been a really whole
lot of funds collected through this mechanism.
Of course, if we collect 2000
here and there, that can be great.
I also know that when you have
huge disasters and lot of times whether you read it in the news
all the time, whether you want to go back to katrina where
there was a lot of donations and
nobody knew what happened to the
funding or to other
international situations, even in the quake, there was a donations that were unaccounted for.
When it comes to huge disasters,
the donations itself by private
donors comes after the fact that
we had city or state or federal
government will react to the situation.
Part of what I want to do is amend this.
Again, I don't think it's going
to really have much impact
unless it's a major disaster.
I would like us to not totally give away fiduciary responsibility and having a check and balance here.
If we were indeed, to have over
100,000 and 500 is very far from
100,000, that the board would
have to approve the expenditure,
anything that's over 100,000. Again, I don't think going to
have much impact in terms of
things like the fire and the mission.
If it was 100,000 paid for about
130 victims for the three nights
at $256 a night at a hotel.
I'm asking support for this
amendment so we don't give up
our fiduciary responsibility as a board of supervisors.
>> supervisor yee has made a motion to approve an amendment that he circulated to the members of the board. Is there a second?
Seconded by supervisor avalos, supervisor tang. >> thank you very much. I appreciate everything that
supervisor yee just stated. I do believe in transparency and accountability for even private donations. Not just city funds but private donor who are trying to
contribute to disaster recovery
and emergency response.
We do -- unfortunately respectfully disagree, it does defeat the purpose why we're doing this. We trying to bypass the board
process only in the case of an emergency. For nothing else.
That is why I proposed the
amendment reporting annually. Speaking to that concern, I do want to ask the controllers
office if you can let us know what types of internal controls
there are in terms of spending. Again, we don't have much experience with this. However, do know there are
internal controls in place as to
how funding will be dolled out. >> deputy controller.
This is a matter of balancing the fiduciary responsibility as well as the internal controls. Specifically on the internal controls when donations are
provided to the city, they are
separately accounted for and tracked. The proposed legislation does specifically tell the controller
as well as the city
administrative office how it can very limit spend those funds.
That's one of the delegations
that you would have that's presently drafted. Additionally with that required transparency and recording, you will hear from us when we give
you the quartering budget
updates of all the sources and uses for that fund as well as
annually a full accounting of
all sorts of end uses. I I know the amount before you
today, you seen $500 in donations, very thankfully we
have not had a major earthquake since 1989.
We have not had thousands of people displaced.
This will be a matter of where
you feel comfortable delegating
us with the oversight as well as
the city administrator's office.
The allocation of the funds is in consultation with our office as well as department of
emergency management and the mayor's office. There are those internal
controls in place that we would
be accountable to you. >> supervisor cohen. >> thank you.
First, I wanted to -- good
afternoon everyone -- supervisor
yee, I don't have your amendment. This is your amendment?
Thank you very much. What page? >> [Inaudible] >> thank you.
I do have a question for clarification.
i think it's for you.
On page 1, line 21 at the end, it says, san francisco disaster
emergency response recovery fund is a category eight fund.
Can you tell me what category
eight fund is? >> category eight fund
specifically is allowed under
the administrative code in so far as the appropriate spending
of that money is allowed without
coming back to you first as a board for approval.
In this specific case, though,
the legislation narrowly defines how it can be expressed into
those four expressed categories.
The legislation gives the automatic appropriatation but
narrowly defines how it can be spent.
In this case, it's nonpublic
money coming for specific donor designated purpose to help out
in an emergency response or recovery effort. Specifically auto appropriation.
It allows the donor's money to accrue interest and to be spent
later or in a subsequent fiscal
year.
>> thank you. >> thank you, at this time,
supervisor yee has made a motion
to approve the amendments it was seconded by supervisor avalos.
Please call the roll on the vote.
I don't see your name on the roster. Supervisor campos. >> thank you Madam President.
Just s question for the chair to
supervisor tang to the author.
What will be the concern if we
pass the amendment that supervisor yee introduced?
It seems like it provides more
transparency and more oversight.
i'm just wondering what the concern is. >> sure. I think as I stated in my opening comments, the whole purpose of this legislation so that if private donors want to
make a donation to the city for emergency response, well dole
out that funding for whatever
that emergency is in a timely fashion. If you were to adopt the
amendment, I understand the concern for transparency but if
you adopt the amendment, it
essentially really does away what this legislation is all about.
Which is only in the purpose for
the emergency will be doling out this funding.
I'm not generally speaking of category eight funds for the event of an emergency, I believe
it is something that is appropriate.
Like Mr. Reed said from the
controller's office, there are a lot of internal controls to
make sure the funds is only spent in those four categories
that we laid out in this legislation. >> okay. Supervisor campos, anything else? Thank you.
Seeing no other names on the roster, Madam Clerk, please call
the roll.
>> supervisor cohen -- no,
supervisor farrell -- no, supervisor kim, aye supervisor
>> okay, the amendment fails. Madam Clerk, please call the
roll on the item. Sorry, supervisor yee.
>> I just wanted to be clear, I
do appreciate the intent.
I didn't think that we're going to reach $100,000.
I will be voting no on this.
Not because I agree with the intent. We should be taking fiduciary responsibility on this item.
If we're going to be fiscally responsible, we need to make a decision to do that.
Not back off that. >> thank you. Madam Clerk, can you please call
the roll on the item?
>> item eight, supervisor cohen,
supervisor farrell, supervisor
kim, supervisor mar, supervisor
tang, supervisor wiener,
supervisor yee supervisor avalos
supervisor breed, supervisor
campos supervisor christensen. There are eight ayes and three noes with supervisors yee,
avalos and campos in the dissent.
>> this ordinance passes on the first reading.
I know that we have two accommodations.
Like to call on supervisor
farrell for our first accommodations. >> thank you President Breed. Today it's pretty rare I think
we get to honor people that have done amazing things that we can
never even imagine doing here at the board. This summer, I remember watching
tv and hearing this crazy idea
that there was a woman who was
attempting to interim from the island -- swim from the islands all the way to city of san francisco without a wet suit. She was going to do it straight
without touching her boat. All the news coverage of her
making that successful swim.
Then, as I was mentioning to
her, I was with my wife and children this summer in a car
and listening to an npr
interview and her life story.
I am so in awe of everything she accomplished.
Today we're honoring kimberly chambers who became the first
woman in the world to swim from the islands to the city of san francisco.
Come up kimberly.
[Applause].
>> to put this in context, this
is a swim of 30 miles of shark infested water.
As some of my friends mentioned
to me, the idea of proactively
jumping into shark waters where they're known to eat in the
islands in the dark, seems to be
a bit of a crazy idea.
It was nothing but admiration
that everyone continues to talk
about it. She did this feat in 17 hours and 12 minutes. Which is unbelievable.
I want to talk about background for everyone about your background. In 2007, she suffered an
accident where doctors gave her
a less than one percent chance
of walking unassisted.
Former rower at berkeley, she
spent two years rehabilitating
her leg and started swimming six
years ago for the first time
since primary school. Building a foundation for what
you did is so incredible.
She's a proud member of the
knight swimmers who are here.
All the group here, I know bob
and some other folks here.
Simon who's there with them, was
the man earlier this year that swam from san francisco and only
to get pulled out the water
because there was sharks
circling around him.
He was just a few miles away
from the finish of that swim.
Something I could never imagine doing.
Any case, in 2012, some more history here.
She joined a number of swimmers on a relay team from san
francisco and santa barbara.
Swimming day and night.
Despite that, raised over a million dollars for charity.
On September 2nd, she
successfully swam the northern
ireland to scotland north channel.
Which was seventh of the ocean seven swim, which was unbelievable. All that you've done. She's been nominated for so many
women of the year awards.
Which is unbelievable.
Supervisor christensen is right nearby. We were talking about her earlier today.
I want you to know how amazed so many of us of what you did.
I'm sure you heard that a lot.
On behalf of everyone here, congratulations. I know after hearing that
interview, I realize what a team effort that is. What an amazing collective story
of a group effort.
But also, I want to make sure, you probably didn't set out to
do it on purpose, I have a 9-year-old daughter who's on the swim team. The example that you have set
and letting young women know that they can accomplish if they put their mind to it.
This is obviously beyond mote everyone's dreams.
So congratulations to you and thank you and congratulates for
all that you've done.
>> thank you so much. [Applause]. >> thank you supervisor farrell
and Madam President and members of the board. I'm tremendously honored to be here. I'm trying not to cry.
None of this as sunk in.
You don't do these swims. They're not athletic events.
These are very personal journeys of self-transformation.
I was in a situation with an injury.
It took me two years to walk again. Swimming has really put me on
this path of the self-discovery
of realizing his dreams and
realizing that we're all capable of far more than we think we are.
It starts community.
I am tremendously proud to have
the support of my friends and
san francisco, the swim clubs,
dolphin clubs and most of all my
night train swim team who are
here behind me.
Everyone has encouraed me to
dream big.
To make these swims bigger than yourself, to do this more
charity, I learned from my
mentors I like to take a moment to introduce. >> okay, I'll say a couple of things. First of all, you didn't know
that the fairline island belonged to san francisco.
You own the ready and you have
-- real have to abide by the rule. People started talking about, why don't we swim to san francisco.
They toyed with that idea.
They used to eat ham sandwiches
and drink brandy about half way. In 1967 ted made it.
He was the first to do that. He actually tried three times. Once he didn't make it and
second time he died.
Third time he made it.
The dream what kim was thinking about was wouldn't be great if a
woman can do that. San francisco has been a city of pioneers.
The gold rush days. No limits, always tests whatever
you can think of and dream of. We've all been proactive and the
city of san francisco so cool and neat.
I'll leave you with this.
History is being made now, 20
years from now, you can say, I
was at city hall when they honored kim chambers. This is history in the making. It's like a first person flying
to the moon or doing something or flying across the atlantic. This is kim chambers.
Not to forget simon who laid the ground work.
He showed her the road map. He swam three mile short.
He was bleeding from his neck down because. He was so nervous.
Big hand for simon. [Applause]. Kim, your turn. >> thank you once again.
I'm just tremendously honored to
be here and don't be afraid to dream big.
Thank you.
[Applause]
>> thank you very much, congratulations can.
Next commendation is erik mar.
>> I wanted to say that it's a
historic moment in this chambers that we're joined by an amazing
leader all the way from seoul,
korea that has an example of
courage and breaking silence. She's an example of a growing movement led by women's
organizations in korea and japan
and in this country and the U.S. For justice for hundreds of
thousands of girls and women
that were kidnapped coerced into
sexual slavery by the japanese
imperial army from 1932 to 1945.
I wanted to ask if our honoree can come forward. But also acknowledge that we're
joined by judges, lillian singh and julie tang.
We are also joined by phyllis kim from the korean american forum.
She will be translating.
The leader that we are here
honoring today Ms. Eun sue lee.
She's a courageous person showing perseverance.
She represents and embodies the fighting spirit of women's movement in the pacific and in asia and in this country leading the struggle for justice.
She's been leading it for about
20 years since she broke her
silence along with other women.
Grandma lee was more than in
1928 in korea. She was 15 years old the age of my daughter as well.
My japanese and chinese-american daughter, jade. grandma lee was 15 years old when she was lured out of her home in the middle of the night.
She was taken to a comfort
station for a unit in taiwan. She returned after the war and lived in silence.
She lived in silence until 1992
when she registered with the korean government as a victim of
the japanese military sexual slavery. Tremendously courageous person. She thought what happened to her
was an isolated incident.
But soon realized so many other
women well over 200,000 were subject to the statement horrors that she went through.
I think some say that the
average was 10 to 20 rapes of
people per day. Just the suffering and the horrors. Since then, grandma lee has become a leader and an activist
in the movement to demand an official apology and government
reparations from the japanese government.
Grandma lee was one of the three
supervisors that testify -- survivors that testified before
the U.S. Congress.
Grandma lee embodies courage and determination.
She's making numerous trips around the globe including japan
and to the U.S. To attend events, give talk and raise
public awareness about the so called comfort women issue.
I like to say that our justice
for cuppard women coallation is growing because of the courage of grandma lee.
She's getting around at the age
of 87 to speak and to raise awareness to pressure the
japanese government to formally apologize. She lives in korea.
My was a is working with the
justice for comfort women
coalition to arrange for a conference. She's meeting with the mayor
later today, I believe, also
grace hugh has her and many other events that she's attending.
On behalf of the justice for comfort women coalition, I wanted to ask those in the
audience could stand from the
rape of coalition and justice for comfort women coalition.
Stand in solidarity as we thank
brand ma lee and give her -- grandma lee and give her remarks.
Thank you.
[Applause]
>> President Breed.
>> [Speaking foreign language]
>> hello everyone, my name is sue lee.
I am the living evidence of
history.
It's beautiful in san francisco no meet with you.
I want to ask you, from the
bottom of my heart, please let
me get rid of my sadness in my
heart by erecting a memorial in this beautiful city of san
francisco.
I came here as a witness of the
history but now I am more than that.
I came here as an activist who
is trying to resolve the history
for the sake of all women rights of the world. For the sake of the women's
around the world, I am determined to resolve this
problem.
[Speaking foreign language] Enter all of you in san
francisco, I give you my respect and will have and I sincerely
ask you to erect a memorial in san francisco.
I am very grateful, thank you.
I love you everyone.
>> thank you.
>> thank you supervisor mar. [Applause] Thank you, at this time
supervisor kim will say a few words.
>> first of all I want to say a
couple of of my own words as well.
I grew up -- my parents integrated from korea to the U.S. In the 1970s.
I grew up in my childhood hearing story about the
occupation, the war and the story of women and wrung girls
that were taken from their home to serve as sexual slaves for the japanese military.
These are stories that I grew up
hearing from so many women in my family. Who are fearful that they could have been one of the victims.
I want to thank you so much for
what you were doing. The greatest revolution that you
can give is not just to survive but survive and tell the stories.
The experience and the story are
humiliating and so haggling to -- challenging to hear. I know even more challenging to
tell the public and share your experience. I want to thank you from the
bottom of my heart for your leadership and courage. It is so important we not only know our history but we remember the story so they won't happen again.
I think that your contribution to women and girls across the
world that are victimized is so
incredibly important that we
cannot rest until we end this type of violence against girls and women.
So thank you again. [Speaking foreign language]
>> thank you supervisor kim.
>> okay, thank you very much.
Okay, thank you to the
paparazzi, we will now turn to the regular business of the board of supervisors.
Madam Clerk, plaza go -- please
go to item number nine.
>> to levee property taxes to
each 100 evaluation for the tax
property. The bay area district.
To establish a pass through rate
of 0.020 for residential
tenants.
>> Madam Clerk please call the roll.
>> cohen, supervisor farrell,
supervisor kim, supervisor mar,
supervisor tang, supervisor kim, supervisor wiener, supervisor
yee, supervisor avalos,
supervisor breed, supervisor
campos, supervisor christensen.
There are 11 ayes.
>> this ordinary nans is -- unanimously passed.
Member of the public please sit quietly. Thank you very much. Madam Clerk, can you please read the next item.
>> item 10 is an ordinance to
waive banner fees under public
works code section 184.78 for up to 25 banners to be placed by the abraham lincoln high school
to public sized 75th
anniversary celebration gala.
>> same call.
Without objection, this ordinance is passed unanimously.
>> item 11 is a resolution to
approve amendment number one to terminal news specialty store
lease between hudson group
retail for relocation of another concession space and reduction of the minimum annual guarantee
of the rent of approximately 555,000.
>> please call the roll.
>> supervisor cohen, supervisor
farrell, supervisor kim,
supervisor mar, more absent,
supervisor tang, supervisor
wiener, supervisor yee,
supervisor avalos, supervisor
breed, supervisor campos supervisor christensen. There are 10 ayes.
>> this resolution is adopted unanimously.
Item 12 please. >> resolution to authorize the office of the district attorney
to accept an expanded grant in
the amount of approximately
$2.1 million frtm the government
claims board for the period
July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018. Supervisor cohen, supervisor
kim, supervisor mar, supervisor
tang, supervisor wiener,
supervisor yee, supervisor
avalos, supervisor breed
supervisor campos, supervisor christensen. There are 11 ayes.
>> this resolution is adopted unanimously. Item 13. >> resolution to approve an
emergency public works contract with kone evening to renovate
and update the elevators. >> same house same call.
This resolution is adopted unanimously. Next item. >> item 14 resolution to authorize the general manager of the san francisco public
utilities commission to
negotiate and execute 25 year
lease for approximately 199 acres.
For water use and management aggravate conveyance for annual
rental rate of 60,000 plus four percent. >> same house same call.
This resolution is adopted unanimously.
Can you read item 15 through 19. >> they are five resolutions
that approve amendments are a
modification to the various leases between the treasure island development authority and the united states navy to extend the term for one year for the
period of December 1, 2015
through November 30, 2016.
Item 15 is amendment 40 to the treasure island land and
structure master lease, item 16 is amendment number 31 to the treasure island south water front master lease.
17 is the amendment number 19 to
the treasure island master lease.
Item 19 is a modification of the cooperative agreement to extend
the term from October 1, 2015 until the earlier of the
termination was conveyance agreement executed between the navy and the authority or the
date that all parcels at the the
treasure remind are -- island are conveyed.
>> can we take those items. Without objection, these
resolutions are adopted unanimously. Item 20.
>> resolution to authorize the department of public health
behavorial health services to
enter into an amendmented multiyear contract with the state department of healthcare
services in the approximate
amount of $40.4 million from
July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2017.
>> this resolution is adopted
unanimously. Item 21. >> resolution to retroactively authorize the department of
public department to accept and
extend gifts from Dr. Laguna.
In the amount of $400,000 from
July 1, 2015 through June 30,
2035 and $100,000 to the development fund.
July1, 2015 through June 30, 2025. >> without objection, this
resolution is adopted unanimously. Next item.
>> item 22, resolution to authorize the department public health to receive federal and
state funding for certain nontransportation project through the department of
transportation and to execute
these agreements in any amendments. >> without objection, this
resolution is adopted unanimously. >> item 23 resolution to authorize the recreation and
park department to accept and extend a grant in place for the
public land improvements to the
buchanan street mall valued
approximately $188,000, April 7,
2015 through October 31, 2015. >> without objection, this
resolution is adopted unanimously. Okay, Madam Clerk, can we go to our committee report? >> item 24 was considered bethe rules committee as a regular meeting on thursday September 10, it was forwarded as a committee report.
It was recommended as amended with a new title.
Item 24 now reads, motion to
approve the mayor's reappointment of bryant tan to
the entertainment commission
term ending July 1, 2019.
>> this motion is approved unanimously.
Okay, let's go to roll call for introductions. >> first supervisor up to introduce new business is
supervisor cohen.
>> thank you Madam Clerk. I submit.
>> thank you supervisor cohen. Supervisor farrell.
>> I have two items today.
First of all, is an item that I'm co-sponsoring and mayor yee is sponsoring around our inclusionary housing program.
Without a doubt, obviously our
most pressing issue we continue to talk about inside of city hall with housing shortage and crisis.
We've been doing a lot to create
new housing and affordable units.
A number of us came together over the past year plus to
participate in the mayor's housing working group.
We worked with a group of folks
including our staff affordable housing advocates, community leaders. As a result of these meetings
and a lot of back and forth between stakeholders, we arrived today what I am very much
supporting and introducing the
most substantive undates inclusionary housing program. Today, mayor lee formally introduced these amendments that
include number of items. First
is the creation of an inclusionary dial, which adds
option to increase a target of
pricing of on or off sight units for providing more units. For rental units, sponsors will
be able to dial up to 90% ami.
All in exchange for producing a
greater number of permanently
affordable units.
In addition, there's addition of small site alternative. Where developers of small projects will have the option to direct their feed towards the
acquisition of rental buildings in the neighborhood of the principle project.
There's also strengthening the off site alternative where the developers will have the project
to be located 1.5 miles of the market rate project.
This allows for more time for an off sight project to be completed since there's
difficulty in obtaining all the permits. Our residents expect that we
continue to work on this housing issue.
I do believe as we all do, producing more affordable
housing is one of the key things
that we must focus on here in city hall. These are common sense reforms, overdue reforms and I'm glad
that over a year of working together, we've introduced them. I do want to thank a number of people from the mayor and staff
that have been working on this. Jeff buckley, his senior housing
advisor and all of the mayor,
housing staff and planning staff including sophie hayward and everybody else who participated
in these working groups. The second item I'm introducing today is something I mentioned
earlier in the summer.
That is around our gun control
legislation and policies here in san francisco.
Easy access, obviously, two firearms continuing to be a contributing factor to senseless violence.
Not only here in san francisco but across our country. Even though we have some of the
toughest gun laws, there still
remains more we can do in terms of public safety.
There are gaps in our federal and state legislation that san francisco has yet to address,
that a number of other counties in san francisco have already taken advantage of. That's why today I'm introducing legislation that would require
the video taping of all gun and ammunition sales in san francisco. And require all stores transfer to the san francisco police department.
I want to thank supervisor
cohen who's been a strong leader in proposing gun control reforms. It is intended to fill the gaps that exist at the federal and
state level and enhance public safety. I do believe we need to do everything within our power here
inside of city hall. I hear about public safety concerns whether it's quality of
life crimes or violent crimes. Obviously, we can't go out and patrol the streets. What we can do inside the city hall is equally important.
I do believe we need to continue to press forward. The first portion of the legislation would require the
video taping of all gun and
ammunition sales within the city
of san francisco. Including counters and safes, vaults and so forth. Currently no federal or
california law impose a security
requirement during business hours. Simply having this evidence of all gun sale and all gun
handling within the stores will
hopefully deter those are buying guns and ammunitions.
As with both of these items, it
will give our law enforcement personnel additional data and
resources and tools in order to prosecute crimes and investigate them as well.
The second portion would require
the electronic transmission of ammunition sales data and
transfers weekly to the san
francisco police department. Over a dozen local jurisdictions
in california have already
adopted ordinances requiring similar electronic transmission. California currently does not
have anything similar in place.
I do think the goal here are
pretty simple and
straightforward.
To prevent and deter illegal
traffic, to make sure our san francisco police department
continues to have all the tools available to continue to force our public safety. Hopefully this package will
continue to aid in that progress
to deter violence in our neighborhoods and on our streets.
Stop people are getting access to guns. The rest I submit.
>> thank you supervisor farrell.
Supervisor kim. >> thank you.
I look forward to the discussion on inclusionary reform.
I'm curious as to how looking at reducing develop or obligations will build more affordable housing for our city.
Today I am making a request to our comptroller's office to study and develop a range of
option for a citywide public
toilet program expanding upon
the successful tenderloin pit
stop program which is piloting with public works. The critical component of what has made this pilot so successful is the regular maintenance and monitoring.
Only possible with staffing of our public works program.
My first two years in office I
heard over and over again that
residents needed more public restrooms.
Not just the green bathrooms
that often utilized not for
bathroom purposes but became
magnets and dangerous activities.
Our residents want to -- that
would prevent them from being
forced urinate or defecate on the streets.
Over the two years, we worked
closestly with director muhammad
and public works to develop it.
Last summer, we were able to launch three pit stops in district six. Over the year, the data that we have collected has shown that
they are a tremendous success.
On average, everyday, almost 100
people use the three pit stops in the tenderloin.
In July of 2015, these three pit
stops were utilized 4500 times. We're noticing there's a tremendous increase even over
the last two months.
An example of one that I will
share which is on ellis, right
across from glide church in May, we saw 1235 uses. Not only the programs are successful, they've been utilized as people grow to trust them and learn from them.
In the first six months, we
found that we were saving 240 gallons of water a month.
It led to reduction in request
in the neighborhood by over 60% in steam clean ask. These facilities have made our streets cleaner, we collected
over 120 bags of garbages.
I want to thank and recognize my
colleagues for unanimously approving my budget request to make the pit stop permanent in January of this year and expanding a fourth location in
the south of market on sixth street.
Over the last month, this
program has now expanded to supervisor david campos's
district and two more pit stops
in our district on mid-market and civic center.
Even in the last two weeks,
we're seeing utilizing one of
the J.C. Dacoe bathrooms.
Number of flushes are tripling. Meaning more people are feeling safe and comfortable using these restrooms because they are monitored and cleaned on a regular basis.
we, however, know this is a citywide issue.
This isn't limit to district six and nine. We are hearing across the city,
not only we need more places for all members of the public,
whether they are tourists or
families that are shopping,
vendors on the streets that aren't able to access restrooms, of course the individuals call
the streets their home and have nowhere else to go.
This can be something to provide
dignity for all residents and make streets cleaner. I live in south of market. I walk to work many days.
There are not many days when I don't see examples of this or have to step over it.
This is something that our city
can address with financial support.
Today, I am asking the comptroller's office to examine
the geographic need based on 311
and public works data, propose locationses throughout the city including existing resources
that we can utilize.
And examine alternatives like
the innovative pit stops and the
citizens proposed concepts like
the pee plant on market street a few months ago.
I'm making this request with supervisor campos and avalos. Access to public restrooms is a basic human necessity. No one can stop going to the bathroom. That's just not a bodily
function that we can control and we should not blame individuals
on the streets for having to urinate or defecate on the street.
We deserve to live and work in a city where we can walk down the
streets without stepping over
feces or smelling urine.
We look forward to having a hearing on this item in the next couple of weeks. The rest I submit.
>> thank you supervisor kim. Supervisor mar. >> thank you colleagues, I have
several items on hunger piece and valley fires.
I'm really hungry right now.
We're in the middle of hunger action month.
This week a number of community
leaders are going through the snap challenge, the hunger
challenge, trying to live off $4.72 per day. I only have to deal with this
for a week.
There's 42,000 san franciscans that live off food stamps everyday. There's one in four san
francisco -- san franciscans that are at risk.
I wanted to thank the san francisco marine food bank for challenging us. I wanted to thank project open hand for requiring the leadership of their organization
to go through this at least week long experience.
I'm living off extremely tight food budget. Oatmeal, rice and beans, a positive thing is cooking more at home with my daughter.
I think that's a benefit of
building community and family. I'm hungry height now.
By the time I -- I did this last year.
My brain stops working about 3:00 P.M.
I go to bed hungry everyday and every night. it's a good experience for policy makers like me to do this.
I wanted to say, right now the
cal fresh snap benefit is about
$4.72 a day. I realize that for me it's only
a simulated experience, it's not the same when I can go back to my regular habit at the end of the week.
I still see a value of shipping
my own perspective on the issue. Really helping to ease the
suffering that many people have everyday.
Together, I think with the food
security task force, the tenderloin and many others, we can raise awareness and mobilize our public and hunger in san francisco. We as a board pass resolution to
end hunger to significantly end it by 2020. We're trying to do that at the budget committee. We need everybody to help us do that.
For more information, suggest of
how to survive off $4 a day, go
to sfmfoodbank.Orghunger challenge 2015. It's opening my eyes.
I wanted to say I'm helping to
support an amazing event on September 19th on saturday.
It's a third annual piece in the park in district one.
It brings together the diverse
san francisco and surrounded communities to unplug and
explore activities of peace, joy and happiness in a fun, inspiring and healthy atmosphere. The festival was created in
response to the growing concern
that we are over stimulated 80t
afflicted, I have to admit
openly that I have add.
We're a tech saturated culture. If you come with us, you'll be
among some of the best artist, scientists and policy makers in
the bay area at this event.
The festival is offered free of
charge by a coalition.
For more information, go to
peace in the park sf.Org. Lastly, many people know, thousands of lives have been disrupted and touched by the valley fire that's raging in
napa and lake counties. To date, 585 homes have been destroyed and hundreds of other structures have been destroyed as well.
The loss is up there include the
home of my friend and former
aid, peter's parents.
Many of those affected have lost everything. There are various ways help.
To give to the california fire
foundation, go to w ww.Cafirefoundation.Org.
I wanted to say, I know how devastating home fires can be. In 2000, I lost my home and all
of my family's belongs to a fire in the richmond district.
My heart goes out to all of the families and residents
struggling to get back on their feet.
Tricounty bank set up an account to benefit the victims.
Anyone like to donate can visit
any bank of tri-county bank and make a deposit to the valley fire relief fund.
The funds will be distributed to
people in need through relief
agencies and salvation army is accepting monetary donations.
You can donate online or call 1-800-sfl army.
>> thank you supervisor mar. with supervisor kim wish to
speak to the hunger challenge. >> I want to thank supervisor mar for taking leadership of taking up the hunger challenge last year. My was a and including myself
have joined ther hunger exactly as well. I have been participating sense
yesterday and my entire staff including their families and three children are participating.
I do agree with you, it is a
really important challenge for
policy makers to take on.
I'm really committed to our healthy corner store program and
food justice program in the tenderloin. Because of that I'm shopping
locally at our local corner store. Figuring out how I can stretch
my budget on $4.50 a day. Which is something many of our residents are doing here in the city.
I want to thank you for doing that.
We want to continue to work on this issue. I want to recognize the food bank who is leading this
challenge this year.
I know what many of us come from
families where our parents have immigrated to the united states to better unites. Very proud that san francisco has always welcomed our
immigrant community with open arms.
In September 17, 1787, it was the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
Back in 12, our city had
launched a san francisco pathways to citizen initiative.
since then, we have reached over
one million bay area residents.
We trained over 500 volunteers.
I want to take some time to recognize and celebrate
September 17th as constitution and citizenship day here in san francisco. With that I submit.
>> thank you supervisor tang. Supervisor wiener. >> thank you Madam Clerk.
Today I'm introducing a
legislation to expedite the
approval process for affordable housing.
Specifically to eliminate the
conditional use requirement for any affordable housing project
that contains 100% affordable units.
We all agree that we need significantly more affordable housing in san francisco.
It takes way too long to get affordable housing projects
approved in the city. The conditional use process,
which is a very useful process
in many context, in the context
of getting affordable housing built, can at times delay these
projects by a year or more adding significant expense as well. We have seen projects that have
been delayed through the conditional use process. It's not the best way to proceed. We need more affordable housing
and it takes way too long to get affordable housing built in the city.
Legislation will also make it
easier to use publicly owned
land other than park, space or
open space to build affordable housing.
By eliminating the requirement
that publicly owned land be
rezoned in order to create affordable house. This is legislation applies only
to projects that are affordable
housing 100% in all the units
are affordable housing to people
making somewhere between zero
and 120% of area median income. I look forward to discussion about this and other ways that we can build more affordable
housing and make it easier,
faster and less expensive to do so.
I also will be joining
supervisor yee in memorial for
everett, she passed suddenly and tragically.
Was the principal at st. Phillips. A school that's been there for many years. It's a real institution in the community. She was someone who was beloved by the school community and by the neighborhood.
I know that people are in shock
that she's gone and we'll all
Miss Her dearly.
>> thank you supervisor wiener. Supervisor yee.
>> thank you Madam Clerk.
I would like to adjourn today's
meeting of a principal.
She would be sorely missed. Ms.Everett passed away unexpectedly this weekend. Nobody expected this.
She is someone who has dedicated her life tirelessly to education.
She was a loving and caring person and always made time to
get to know each student.
Ms.Everett will be missed so much and the st. Phillips community. Our thoughts are with her
husband john and her two daughters.
>> thank you supervisor yee. Supervisor avalos. Supervisor breed.
>> thank you, I have one in
memoriam for Ms. Karalee. Kara lee.
I want to acknowledge karalee
who passed away with her former husband mellee.
Ms.Lee was born on December 5, 1941. Mrs.Lee dedicated her life to
serving the public by working as an intake nurse at the california pacific medical center for her whole career
until she retired in 2007.
Outside of work, Mrs. Lee was athletically talented.
She enjoyed playing tennis and riding on horseback.
She had a gift for water color painting.
She liked to paint fruits, flowers and vegetables.
A loving mother, Mrs. Lee is
succeeded by her three children
and three grandchildren. She will be truly missed. The rest I submit.
>> thank you Madam President. Supervisor campos. >> submit. >> supervisor christensen. Seeing no other names on the roster. That includes the introduction
of new business. >> at this time, can you please read public comment.
>> the public May address the entire board of supervisors for
up to two minutes on items, the subject matter jurisdiction of the board.
To include the minutes, the
items on the adoption without
reference to committee calendar,
items 27 through 29.
Items 1 through 24.
Pursuant to the board's rules of board direct remarks to your
board as a whole not to individual supervisors. Speakers using translation assistance will be allowed twice
the amount of time to testify. If you would would like to
display a document on the projector, please clearly state
such and remove the document. >> okay, thank you. First speaker. Welcome.
>> thank you members of the board. I'm rabbi doug khan, director of
the jewish community relations council. Pleased to speak on the organized jewish community. Honored to be a member of the coalition.
We believe in the importance of memory.
It will only be confined to the
obscure history books. San francisco's holocaust memorial was established more
than 30 years ago after mayor
feinstein appointed a committee. I was privileged to staff that
committee at lincoln park. As with this memorial, this one
will do precisely the same in
honoring memory and shining
light on humanity.
In honoring the survivors and
serving as an opportunity for reconciliation. The effort to establish a monument to comfort women,
resonates deeply for the jewish community.
This is why our community is
proud to support this important memorial. Thank you. >> thank you very much.
Next speaker please.
>> I like to use the overhead.
I haven't started yet.
>> can you start the time
please.
>> I'm here concerning my son
aubrey who was murdered to a semiautomatic gun.
To my son, we just recently got through rallying right here in
front of city hall.
Mothers demanding action for unsolved homicide.
I've been doing this for nine years. August14th will be nine years since my son was murdered. Still to justice or closure.
We want to bring awareness to unsolved homicide so that mothers like myself can heal. We have no closure.
I want to bring awareness to
also that firearms are the third
leading killers of our children
ages 1 through 17. Firearms, how many firearms are
we going to let come here for
people to get a hold of and go and commit senseless violence like this among our children?
We need to stop these shop from opening that are carrying these guns for people to go and shop and get these guns and people are selling guns out of the trunk of their car to people
with mental health to go and
kill our children.
Like I said, I'm not only here
about my child, we have other
mothers and fathers that are
suffering in silence concerning their children. These are all unsolved home sides and something needs to be done about it.
We don't need to be left with
this what I have to look at everyday.
What I have to think about everyday concerning my son. This is something I'm going to be doing for the rest of my life.
I shouldn't have to stand up and fight.
>> thank you Mrs. Brown.
Next speaker please. >> overhead please. Supervisors, director of san francisco.
I showed you this list sast week. 24 wins.
I don't need to tell the members of board of supervisors how hard
it was to win 24 times.
The public should be made aware
of the awareness have been made
to sabotage the sunshine
ordinance task force. Let's start the next six months to a year discussing some of these.
Let's start with the case of your President.
I made a public record's request
which the supervisor and her staff knowingly and willfully ignored. A request under the sunshine
ordinance and the california public records act. Supervisor breed didn't respond
to me, didn't respond to the task force, didn't even send anybody to the hearing.
After a month, her
representative connor johnston,
appeared only to moan about having to be there.
He was dismissive both of me and
the rights under the law just as
these other 23 groups have done. I'm nobody special. I believe they probably treat
other citizens the same way.
My opinion would be that her
representative exhibits the same dismissive attitude toward the open government that your board supervisor does. Someone who rather than setting
this type of example, should be setting a positive example and a couple of more of you which
we'll talk about next week and
the week after have chosen to follow that example by being dismissive of the fact that the
citizens have rights --
>> thank you very much, next speaker please. Thank you. Next speaker.
Sir your time is up. >> there's a board rule that
does not allow signs in the chamber.
>> one second, we have a speaker at this time.
Sir.
>> for two years, 85 years old, jew, holocaust survivor,
sleeping on the streets,
homeless because number 12 is lee.
You don't have right, not human
rights, not any right to put on
the street a person -- [Inaudible]. 85 years old holocaust survivor
and you put him on the street
for two years.
Only fascist country can do it.
Only hitler did it in 1940.
By the way, you give me two --
two gave me one -- [Inaudible].
After this you put me on the street. Fascist.
I ask jewish God to punish you.
>> thank you next speaker
please.
>> the sfgov tv, the overhead projector please.
>> can you zoom out please?
>> it's too close. >> if you want to wait, we can figure it out so we can zoom in
and take the next speaker. Okay.
>> my son and three other young
boys were murdered j anuary 9th, quadruple
homicide that happened in hays
valley and eight months later there is no arrest.
Mind you, it has not been one
penny of a reward put on these young men lives.
I am outraged as a mother and
state of shock that when I spoke with chief the other day, I asked him what was going on with the arrest.
His words were, oh, that. Oh that?
I'm here for another case he said.
That let me know that it's not
priority as you claim a high profile case. That nothing like this is happened in san francisco yet.
We as black mothers are losing
our children in mass numbers.
It's not being acknowledged.
I'm coming to this board it's because something really needs
to be done to comfort these mothers and families. We're suffering in high percentage and much of the focus is on the dollars.
What do you expect us to do?
We're asking that the mayor be contacted to demand an arrest
because they do know who the killers are. They know the suspects but they claim they have no witnesses.
They arrested someone with a
stolen car and they let them go.
If it was your child, what would do you? Thank you. >> thank you very much.
Next speaker please. >> I've been a teacher for the
san francisco unified school district if 38 to 40 years.
This is my grandson who I was at uc hospital. I was the first one to touch him.
This is obituary of my grandson.
Who was murdered January 9, 2015.
Eight months and about five days.
I was going tory tire last year.
My grandson told me please don't leave.
He didn't make it to the end. I'm here now. Eight months, they know who the person are.
I say make an arrest. I have serve san francisco
unified school district for 38
plus years from high school, volunteering my services and working and touching all of those children who have been in
the san francisco unified school
district from pre-k to 12th grade.
I say, how long does it take?
I say make an arrest.
My grandson, my first born, he has a brother left, 20 years old.
He doesn't want to come back to the house.
He's into his spirituality, I'm a hebrew.
I say all lives matter. We've been here even before this
happened to our children.
I say who murdered my grandson?
I say, make an arrest. Thank you.
>> next speaker please.
>> thank you President Breed and other members.
My name is christopher.
I like to comment on justice.
Victor hugo seems to have entertain among the first to
claim that justice for the
opressed is to be found in their crime.
Because oppressors are to bare the entire guilt for those crimes.
He has said if a soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sins but he who causes the darkness.
I would give great weight to
calling acts a revenge committed
by the opressed among the oppressor. I could give no weight to
arguing that crimes committed
upon random passersby, among the
innocent, upon the conveniently
weak are anything more than simple crimes.
When such crimes are committed
upon neighbors, upon family and community, the destruction is
even greater that tragedy is
more personal and justice if
any, even more distance.
We all have an internal
executive which orders our actions.
We do what we will to do and nothing else.
We are all able to manage our
impulses whatever they May be if
that is what we choose to do. Thank you President Breed. >> thank you.
Next speaker please.
>> after 32 years of the san francisco superior court, I retired today so I can speak
before you about the comfort woman resolution.
I gave my career up so I can
speak into justice and peace. This resolution is not japan
bashing, it is holding japan accountable. The argument against resolution because other countries have
also committed atrocities is absurd.
If you follow that argument to the logical conclusion, you will
end up doing nothing and holding
no one accountable.
What other atrocities and gay rights, black slavery, you cannot include every human rights violation when you
remember certain crime against humanity.
When you talk about gay rights, you focused about gay rights.
When you talk about this
resolution, you're you focus on
japan's atrocity to what's 200,000 women.
It is not all about the citizens
of the world. The argument that this resolution will hurt japanese
americans is simply wrong, wrong.
Japanese americans have done
nothing to deserve such a association.
Japan did what japan did as a foreign government. Japanese-americans were victims. They should not be associated with that and we will fight against hate crimes against
japanese-americans because of this resolution.
We are a multiethnic rights collaboration including many
japanese americans like all americans, many japanese-americans want to hold
japan accountable for its crimes
against humanity.
She said, my father went to jail
because of the association --
>> thank you very much.
Next speaker please. >> hi, my name is judith.
I'm a long time resident of the city of san francisco and member of the national lawyer guild. When I heard there was a controversy over the building of
the memorial to the so called
comfort women, I was more than puzzled.
I decided yesterday to visit the holocaust memorial.
It's hard to find but it's there.
It was by coincidence very
appropriate as it is now.
As I stood there, I started thinking, although the memorial
is very specific to the 6 million who parished during
world war ii, it makes you think
of holocaust from time in memorial and is happening to people today.
In my mind, I also thought specifically about what's
happening to syrian migrants right now in europe. What you also think about when
you look at these kinds of
memorials, it's about the people of humanity.
How they lived, how they fought
and their lives were taken away from them. That's what the germans did.
They took away our humanity and
we were less than animals.
That's what happened to the comfort women. Their very humanity was taken away.
They were just women to be used during war. They were sexually violated and thrown away.
We want to give that humanity
back.
Next week is yom kippur. what better way to listen to the voices of those comfort women
and to say to the women of the world, never again. >> thank you, next speaker
plaza. -- please.
>> good afternoon. John from san francisco.
Human life should not be left at
the mercy of a money-making
business that can't provide
housing for all.
We are prisoners in our own apartments.
One afraid to complain because
of fear of eviction and eviction
is like a death sentence for
many living on the streets of san francisco. No human being should have that
kind of power over another. Maybe we should come to the realization that we can't always
count on the free market to provide ample shelter for
everyone that needs it.
My landlord is one of the exceptions.
I know this board is trying hard. Thank you. >> thank you next speaker
please.
>> my name is john.
I'm here to speak in support of the comfort women memorial.
I am a japanese-american who grew up in san francisco. I have been involved in the japanese american community for over five years.
I worked actively as member of
the san francisco chapter of the national coalition for reparations during more than
decades long but ultimately
successful movement to win a government apology and
confrontation for surviving
japanese-american who were incarcerated by U.S. Government during world war ii.
I have heard there are concerns
what the memorial May cause or
contribute to japan bashing or anti-japanese sentiments.
As a japanese-american, I think
these concerns are completely unfounded.
The resolution targets the japanese militarist, not the
japanese people or the
japanese-americans as the perpetrators.
>> thank you, next speaker
please.
>> good afternoon, my name is
cathy, I'm co-chair of the
nikkei civil rights. Founded in 1980 to seek
reparations for japanese-americans incarcerated during world war ii.
We see this issue as an issue of human rights and women's rights.
We to not see this issue as one of comfort woman issue, as one between countries of japan,
china and korea. But one between japanese
government and the women.
We support their call for
apology and for reparations from the japanese government and unfortunately, just like our
government had to give
reparations to the japanese-americans for what happened during world war ii, so
too japan of today needs to be accountable for what world war
ii japan did during that time to the comfort women.
It'sed to share a couple of lessons.
We have supported the glendale statue in los angeles.
I want to dispel any thoughts
that there was harassment our bullying. We called the police department
of glendale and found no reports of bullying. We have as an organization have gotten no reports of that incident. In addition, I spoke to the regional director of the
japanese-american citizens league. She heard no reports.
Our community is one that will
hear reports and rumors like that. Instead our experience has been
one of being able to share where korean-american community our history and to be able to teach people who are new to this
country and don't know our history.
A dictation to something that our organization believes in. People don't know the history of japanese and other immigrants here in this country.
We need to share that history in the lessons of redress.
This is an opportunity to teach
and build unity.
>> next speaker please. >> I like that thank the board of supervisors for giving me and
the others a platform to voice
our opinions about the comfort women resolution.
What we requesting to be
memorialized is the memory of a singular, unique atrocity of a time of colonial rule and war
that was marked by countless atrocities.
Comfort women is a misnomer it's
like calling the women of
auschwitz, contract labor. There are those who would have
you not approve this resolution.
These have been denialist, the
revisionist and the nationalist.
They'll tell you what every perpetrator and every rapist tell you.
It was consensual.
It was voluntary.
They are exaggerating.
They enjoyed it. They imagined it.
It never happened.
There's no evidence.
The comfort women say, we are
the evidence, our bodies are
sars, are the truth.
It was not consensual.
It was a living hell.
It happened over and over again. San francisco has a long history respecting even fighting for the
rights of the oppressed, of
being a beacon of justice.
I humbly beseech the supervisor
in that tradition to pass this proposal for our community for
our city for the world for universal conscious.
For the defiled and disrespected
to a portion of quantum of
dignity and rectification. >> your time is up. Thank you.
Next speaker please. >> my name is michael wong. I'm a member of veterans for peace.
I was born and raised and lived in san francisco. The reason that veterans for
peace is involved in this issue and supports the memorial for comfort women, is because the peace movement in japan reached
out to us and asked us to come
and speak in support of this resolution.
Veterans have experienced not
just the horrors of war but also
the healing that can come from
speaking painful truths openly and from making restitution and
admitting when wrongs were committed.
Many vietnam veterans have gone
back to vietnam, have met with
civilians in the villages in
which they operated and have
done work including donating
time and money to vietnamese
orphanages, medical clinics,
agent orange clean up.
The result has been very much healing between both them and the vietnamese who suffered tiger the war.
Healing is possible but it can
only happen when truth is spoken openly and sincerely and action is taken. Thank you.
>> thank you next speaker plaza.
>> I am with korean american Councilwoman California. You were just handed my response
to the letter written by the
mayor.
These are the people including
the prime minster and the
national league, small group of
people who also have sent $500 million in annual budget in
order to fight this type of
effort around the globe. I ask the leaders of san francisco to make a defining
moment in this movement to recognize the history in accurate way so that people
around the globe will look up to the city of san francisco just like it has been doing in the past decade. Thank you so much. >> before I call the next speaker, reverend brown, would
you like to come forward and
speak?
>> members of the board.
I name is brown, President Of the san francisco branch of the national association for the
advancement of colored people.
For us, color onlies in all colors.
I rise to say that Dr. Elijah
once said, if you can't think for yourself, someone else will
to your thinking for you. Whoever does your thinking for you will be your master and you their slave.
I stand as a free thinker and President Of the naacp and
pastor of third baptist.
I have looked at this matter.
I talked to some of you who
serve in this August body. I'm ashamed.
Let's think about it.
The state of texas some days ago
wanted to do some redaction of history.
And to suggest the idea that
slavery was not something that happened.
They tried to put it in economic terms.
I feel that we would do disservice to history and
definitely do some redacting to
suggest that what happened to
these women was not real.
It's like telling a woman who is
raped that it didn't happen.
I don't think we want to do that.
I am standing in support of the
statue and I also would appeal
to us, to think clearly, to
think logically, this is no
blanket indictment of japan.
It's just permitting people to
say, we deserve to be considered
and to remember the pain that we felt.
>> thank you reverend brown.
Next speaker please.
>> hello everyone, I come from
korean-american senior center
located 745 canyon.
There is Ms. London breed
district number five.
I would like to ask supporting
the resolution as full board and
district five.
[Inaudible]
It's harder to understand in a modern perspective.
But they are history colleague. We should not forget all.
Thank you. >> my name is joe.
I was born and reared in the city's bay view district. Currently I reside in district seven. I'm a product of immigrant grandparents who are proud to
come to america for yugoslavia. I stand before you today in
support of the board's resolution regarding memorial to
the comfort women and to urge your affirmation of this resolution.
The city that knows how has blossoms from the days of my grandparents into an array of
beautiful diverse people and cultures.
It has not been afraid to launch
and pioneer issues that other
cities would never entertain. A statue in memory of the comfort women will be an asset to the whole community. The city graciously received visitors from all over the
globe, everyone wants to come to
san francisco.
They come to see its beauty, unique neighborhoods, sample the best food in the world. See the scene on the bay to name
a few objects of their visit. With all the different statutes and color art work on the streets of the city, the
addition of the statute in memory the comfort women will
only add to what the city stands
for, justice, pride, confidence, character, hope and love.
It will be a place where all
people can come and pay their respect as with any other memorial victims of war,
disaster or the like.
>> thank you.
Next speaker please.
>> afternoon, I teach at city college in san francisco. I'm assuming that I'm speaking
to the open minded and
convinced, I'll try to stay
within your two minute limit today.
My intent is not to bash japan
but to show my support for a
very rational movement to inshrine the memorial to the women who suffered greatly and
japan was not the only nation in
history to commit this kind of sexual slavery.
It did it on a much larger scale than most of the other countries.
I have a background in the peace
core and the army and labor movement.
I've been a teacher at city college for 40 years.
It's my view that the best way
to write wrong is to seek
forgiveness, to make amends and I think this memorial is certainly in that tradition.
It would be not just a monument
or a memorial to gender equity.
Japan is a great country.
The literacy rate and longevity
and the technological brilliants
of japan are exemplary.
And the overwhelming of the
people oppose the government attempt to rescind the peace revision of the constitution.
They also are critical of the
union bashing and anti-worker
initiatives.
I believe that this statue will serve peace and reconciliation
and I believe that the japanese
people who are humane on this issue, want the government to make reparations.
Those are the true patriots.
Not the right wing zealots.
It's those people who will help lead japan. >> thank you very much.
Next speaker please.
>> my name is julie tang I'm a retired judge. I'm all too familiar with
victims of sex trafficking.
I have arraigned hundreds of sex workers.
I see firsthand the faces of sex
workers and the evils of sex trafficking.
I have never seen a happy sex worker. The memorial is about them and
about the largest victim of sex trafficking in world war ii that
is to comfort women in modern day history.
I want to urge the members to support the resolution as written. I understand there's an amendment proposed.
The purpose of the amendment is
transparently clear, to deny the japanese women.
The resolution tells an account
of what happened and why the
resolution is necessary.
Nor should it be a vehicle to make the japanese military look
better. Japan committed serious atrocities during world war ii.
One of which is a sexual
enslavement of women and girl.
Japan should be held accountable.
Apology to the victims so that the healing process May begin.
Japan cannot try to behind other world evils. The memorial is not about bashing japan or japanese-americans, it is about
historical truth and a positive
step so what's peace and reconciliation. Let the monument be built.
It is a first step towards peace
planted in the souls of san francisco.
The comfort women who are
suffering is most --
>> thank you, next speaker please. >> hello. Good afternoon.
I like to address three matters today.
Two are the leadership just been
provided today by supervisor mar and supervisor kim.
Very appreciated in the issue of the comfort women and the courage they have in raising the
issue and demanding justice is something that we must all
applaud and not fall for phony
excuses to absolve culpability
for those crimes. Other disappearances for 43 students in mexico.
There was a resolution on this,
that addressed the issue about
the mexican government's investigation. Recent international review
determined that it was a bunch
of you know what.
It's the same bull that we faced in mexico and they're so used to.
The third issue is a treatment
an objection to the treatment of
our courageous sisters regarding the treatment of their children.
I find it ironic that in a
meeting that has been overwhelmingly addressed, the
violence against women, the militarism, here that we have
grieving mothers in the amount
of attention that it's taken to address grieving mothers when we
have these pressing issues.
I believe that is not correct to
have hyper and overzealous
efforts when the first amendment is evolved.
There is no respect to first amendment.
If we protest it discourages.
I like to --
>> thank you very much.
Next speaker please.
>> it's a very special monument.
Next, if 60 white boys from high
school were killed within the city, I think police department
will get on to a little bit
better than they're doing with
black lives.
Just wonderful things. I love glass. Here is something -- the next
time you go to a museum, take a
small pair of glasses and then
stand back from a painting and
focus into the painting.
The three mayors on the news program.
They all three mayors, san jose,
oakland, san francisco, thinking outside the box.
And outside box has gotten us
jobs, growth and in homes of 88%
san -- san franciscans can't afford. The mayor wants to come up with it.
We can do better. Thank you. >> thank you. Are there any other members of
the public who like to provide public comment at this time?
Seeing none, public comment is closed.
please read the items for
adoption without committee reference?
>> items 27 through 29 adoption without committee reference.
Single roll call vote May enact
these items. A member May object and considered separately. >> seeing no members of the roster.
