[speaking cantonese] supervisor ronen thank you so much, president yee. Again my apologies for the confusion. I do want to just put on the record to o. C. S. , when we ask for translation in meetings for an item, were not just talking about translating Public Comment. Were talking about translating everything thats going on. The public should be able to understand what their representatives are saying. And not just give Public Comment to the wind and not understand if its understood or taken. Im a bit troubled that when translation is requested, its not automatically for everything. So i just want to make that note. And i will follow up after this hearing, to make it clear that there shouldnt every single time theres a translation request, it should be for everything thats happening in the meeting. [speaking spanish] [stopping translation] president yee i agree. This is really shameful. [speaking cantonese] supervisor ronen supervisor walton. Supervisor walton thank you so much. Through the chair, just a request for president yee in terms of that last proposed amendment. Where exactly did you want it to go, concerning annual reporting . President yee the City Attorney . Deputy City Attorney. I think that last sentence would probably sit best at the end of subsection con page 2, starting on line 19. And correct me if im wrong here, supervisor yee, i understand your amendment to be a requirement for doss to submit an annual report each fiscal year to the board and the mayor, is that right . President yee correct. Supervisor walton thank you. Supervisor ronen so im sorry this is taking so long. But i did want to make some other comments here, because i actually think that this is one of the most important pieces of legislation before us in a long time. And i want to thank president yee for his incredible leadership. Really throughout your entire career. For very Young Children and for seniors and for the disabled. Its one of the things that i admire so much about you and youre just relentless. You dont stop. And i cant thank you enough for that, because we need someone to be relentless for these communities that are so often forgotten. And so i want to thank you for that. This is super personal for me. I have a father who hes 81, hes disabled. And he was a lowwage worker his entire life. He gets a very small Social Security check every month. And if he did not have my mother, who has a pension from being a school teacher, and a member of a union, and living in a rentcontrolled apartment in los angeles, that they lived in my entire life, my dad would be homelessness. And theres no question about it, or hed be living with me more likely. But he would not be able to be independent and living on his own, because theres no way he could afford a marketrate apartment in los angeles, where he lives, and certainly not in San Francisco. So this is really just a crucial, crucial piece of legislation. And im so proud to be a cosponsor of it. I want to give just a little bit of background from the perspective of my office and from amy bynard, who has worked closely with supervisor yees office, with ccdc, with faith in action about this really important legislation. Joining Mission Economic Development Agency and chinatown, c. D. C. Just over a year ago to break ground on casa, at 1296 shotwell was a true moment of celebration for district 9. It was the first new construction of Affordable Housing in a decade in my district. A period during which the mission became ground zero for displacement, while hundreds of new luxury units were built. But not only was this Affordable Housing, it was Affordable Housing for seniors. And nearly double the number of senior apartments in district 9. So it was both a surprise and a disappointment when i learned from the [speaking spanish] , the women who are in the audience right now, working with Mission Promise neighborhood and faith in action, they did outreach in preparation to lease up 1296 shotwell, they were learning that their neighbors would not even qualify to apply for the housing that they fought so hard to build. That their incomes were not high enough to cover the represents on these quote unquote affordable units. So why this disconnect on family and why is it coming to light so late in the project . For many years, much affordable Senior Housing was built under capital and operating dollars to make it deeply affordable, appropriately affordable for seniors surviving on shoestringfixed incomes. The federal program was killed through a series of congressional budget cuts and ended in 2011. And Senior Housing built since then has not had the operating subsidy needed to be financially viable without relying on higher tenant rents. But the need has clearly not changed. The analysis that came out of the senior working group, for the housing bond and the call to action by leaders of faith in action, have made that crystal clear. The overwhelming majority of seniors in our city are living on less than 22,000 a year. About 25 of the area Median Income in San Francisco. And seniors, whose only income is s. S. I. , are just under 15 a. M. I. Compare that with the amount of money thats required for apartments in this building in 1296 south shotwell. It would be truly shameful for us to size up this stunning obvious reality, that unless we intercede right now, what we are calling affordable Senior Housing is not Affordable Housing for southeasterns. Not for those who need it the most, we must respond now. Again im so grateful to president yee for his leadership and his determination and his urgency to create the s. O. S. Program and to the board for approving initial funding for this pilot project. I know that we have an extremely tight timeline to integrate these subsidies into the financing of 1296 shotwell, in time for rentup. But it is critically important that we do that. My office has talked with meta and with ccdc and they have confirmed that they are committed to making this work. And i see them nodding in the audience. And i appreciate mocd an doss stepping up to meet this challenge. Thank you so much to both kate and shireen for stepping up to the plate. Specifically what we are expecting this will do two 1296 shotwell to bring subsidies to 40 apartments, so seniors with extremely low incomes at 15 a. M. I. And 5 a. M. I. Can qualify. And s. O. S. Will make it possible for the city to do the same, for pipeline and new projects that the housing bond will make possible. Thank you so much to the Community Leaders who have been making the rounds, holding meetings, doing the deep analysis and voicing your demands. I hear you and [speaking spanish spanish. I will do whatever i can to take the first step for s. O. S. And to keep working to address the Affordable Housing for our citys elders and all those who are struggling to stay in San Francisco. Gracias. [speaking spanish] [laughter] president yee one more word. I always forget to do this. I really want to thank my staff, jen, who really took this issue to heart and worked with the advocates to make this happen. Supervisor ronen absolutely. I want to thank you, jen, as well. Thanks for your extraordinary work. We will now open up this item for Public Comment. [speaking spanish] if you want to line up on this side of the room, to your right, my left. [speaking spanish] mr. Wright, going to start us off . Shes going to start off first. Supervisor ronen fantastic. [speaking spanish spanish. [ good morning everybody, for your presence. Voice of translator my name is brenda and im one of the leaders in faith in action. [speaking spanish] voice of translator i would also like to thank supervisor ronen, so that in future meetings we also have interpretation in spanish. [speaking spanish] voice of translator im here to advocate for myself and other seniors in my community, that are also low income as myself. Speaking spanish voice of translator in my case, its not really possible for me to be independent as my s. S. I. Is not sufficient for me to pay for my apartment. [speaking spanish] voice of translator i would like you to keep in mind also all of the older seniors and seniors with disabilities, who cannot afford more than 30 of their income to pay for their apartments. [speaking spanish] voice of translator thank you for listening to me. Have a nice day. Ive been pointing this out for several years. First of all, you should be charging people 30 of their income right off the top, without a subsidy. Thats the reason why the Housing Authority went out of business, because youve got all of these subsidies. Youre wasting money. You need legislation with a requirement of represent for people in these type of income brackets with disabilities automatically 30 of their income in order to be a tenant in the building. Straight off the top. And now about this new legislation that youre doing, youve got a situation enjoyed by senior citizens, but not enjoyed by lowerage bracket people, thats called age discrimination. That should be applied to each and every citizen in San Francisco, not just senior citizens. By the same response, you already got laws on the books pertaining to the charter and redevelopment, rehabilitation and housing. It says right here, section section 33413 of the Community Redevelopment law. At least 15 of all new rehabilitated dwellings, united developed by the public or private entities or persons other than the agency shall be available at Affordable Housing costs to persons and families of very low and low and moderate incomes, not less than 40 of the dwelling units required by available and Affordable Housing at costs to persons and families of very low and low and moderate income shall be available at Affordable Housing costs to very low and low income bracket people. If this was applied, like it was suppose to be applied to each and every brandnew building that comes out of the Mayors Office on housing, for equal opportunity, you wouldnt have this problem with the senior citizens. When you get old, after being in the streets, the majority of your life, now you want to house the people. When theyre suppose to be housed and have an equal opportunity. [bell ringing] [speaking spanish] voice of translator good morning. Good morning, supervisors [speaking spanish] voice of translator im also a leader in faith and action. And today im a promote for faith in action as well. [speaking spanish] voice of translator im here because im here to fight as i have been fighting for many years. Im here because the fight continues. [speaking spanish] voice of translator we want to know more about the subsidies, because its only enough for 40 units. And we want to know whats going to happen with the rest of the people. [speaking spanish] voice of translator so what we want is that for seniors to only pay 30 . [speaking spanish] voice of translator so what we want is to have more subsidies, so that these seniors only pay the 30 that we are requesting, that they only pay for for their represent. [speaking spanish] voice of translator because what we really want to avoid is that these people not going to receive the subsidies, that are not going to receive housing, that they may end up homeless in the streets. [speaking spanish] voice of translator so, supervisors, since you were not able to come to the action meeting that we had, wed like to ask you when we can come to talk to you about this issue. [speaking spanish] voice of translator i want to know the date and the time and all that. [laughter] [speaking spanish] [laughter] voice of translator thank you for giving us the opportunity to be here with you today. [speaking spanish] voice of translator good morning, supervisors. Thank you for having us here. [speaking spanish] voice of translator im a volunteer in faith in action. [speaking spanish] voice of translator [speaking spanish] voice of translator we want to keep fighting for our subsidy for the seniors, because they need it. [speaking spanish] voice of translator we were very happy with the success of the new location being built in shotwell. [speaking spanish] voice of translator but we are very disappointed, too, that with so many people that have applied for subsidied housing for so many years and still unable to get it. [speaking spanish] voice of translator some of the people that were fighting for this development project. [speaking spanish] voice of translator are living with our children. [speaking spanish] voice of translator so we want to have a call to action for these people that need us, before they end up living on the streets. [speaking spanish] voice of translator so were here fighting for the seniors and the subsidies, so they can have their house, because they work very hard to be where theyre at. [speaking spanish] voice of translator we know people who are 80 years old, who are still working, so that theyre able to pay for their represent. [speaking spanish] voice of translator because i cant afford their apartments, just on what the Social Security gives them, so every time we hear the words urgent we really want to put that meeting behind it. It is urgent. [speaking spanish] voice of translator we would like to thank supervisor ronen, because she has been, along with us, on the way. And she knows some of the issues, well, some of them we can actually let her know more what condition we find ourselves in. [speaking spanish] voice of translator we hope to communicate with you soon. Thank you and blessings. [speaking spanish] voice of translator good morning, supervisors. My name is maria. [speaking spanish] voice of translator so im here to emphasize and to make the point, to drive the point home that they give us [speaking spanish] voice of translator because i also suffer displacement when my husband passed away. They did throw us out. [speaking spanish] voice of translator so were here to ask you to subsidy, so that seniors only pay the 30 . 30 is what we can afford. A lot of seniors are suffering, trying to figure out how they can make ends meet. And they cant pay the rents. [speaking spanish] voice of translator so i have worked two shifts, sometimes sleeping only one hour in the morning and one hour at night. I think its time for now that we can also receive some help, so that we can remain in place in the apartments that we live in, because we cannot pay the rents if we dont receive these subsidies. [speaking spanish] voice of translator thank you. God bless you all. Thank you very much. My name is betty trainer. And today im wearing a slightly different hat. Im representing the Community Living campaign. Im coordinator, one of the networks of the Neighborhood Networks in my housing complex st. Francis square coop. The Community Living campaign, as many of us here behind me are urge you to support this program, the s. O. S. Senior Housing Affordability legislation, thats introduced by supervisor yee. We thank him so much for this. This would provide 5 million in projectbased rent subsidies for longterm housing now in the Senior Housing pipeline. And to be administered hopefully by the newly named doss. Its already been spoken by the speakers before me and by supervisor ronen also, the urgent need for this, when we know that so many of our seniors and our communities, our friends, our neighbors, your constituents are making such low incomes on s. S. I. , less than 1,000 a month. And how they come and i had one personal friends, who i have directed to the Mayors Office of office, Senior Housing and they come back and they say to me, i cant afford this. One of whom was worked for, retired now from working with inhome support. And now she has to live with her daughter in the east end. [bell ringing] and shes very unhappy. So we urge you to support this, of course. And it would just mean such a difference to those seniors that have done so much for our city. So thank you very much. Hello. [speaking alternate language] voice of translator hi, im the president of Community Tenants association. On june 13th, 2019, general application, Affordable Housing was released by the city. Its at 150 million will be allocated to develop Senior Housing. Yes, it will increase the number of Senior Housing units. [speaking cantonese] voice of translator please do not forget we have two demands. One, increase the number of Senior Housing. Two, the rent needs to be affordable. None of is dispensable in the housing crisis our second demand, which is affordable represent, needs s. O. S. Program to make it happen. If the s. O. S. Program can only house 30 senior household, it will not help by how much housing you invest in developing Senior Housing. It is also disrespectful to seniors, its not solving the Seniors Housing cries is. We need both quality and quantity. The money cannot be put on one project, but multiple projects to maximize solving the Seniors Housing crisis. [speaking cantonese] [bell ringing] voice of translator id like to ask do you still remember the Community Forum on may 8th, where there were over 100 seniors telling you that difficulties in the city. Kay hartley said they will bring this back to the mayor and the supervisors. [bell ringing] bell i must listen to your opinion and i must do what you ask for. Please fulfill your promise and our 1800 seniors members are now ask. The s. O. S. Program we need at least 130 Senior Housing units that aimed at 50 to 25 a. M. I. Thank you. Supervisor ronen thank you. Thank you. Please, next speaker. Please, account next speaker come up. A minor mixup. Im a member of senior and disability action. And a longtime resident of the fillmore. I support president yees ordinance for the senior and operating subsidy program. It must be longterm and it must be multiproject. 75,000 seniors, if i can put a number to that, 75,000 seniors are currently excluded from qualifying for citysupported new Affordable Housing, because of highincome standards, set by the city. There is an extreme urgency to correct this inequality. For every year seniors are denied help, 350 more extremely lowincome seniors are added to the 75,000. Theyll be excluded from new Affordable Housing. 4,000 by the year 2030. 4,000, in addition to the 75,000. Were in danger of homelessness and were in danger of being trapped in our homes, which are not a. D. A. Accessible. As a group, were left out of the calculations, as city Affordable Housing income requirements and opportunities have been moved to higher incomes. Seniors are not the only ones, of course, left out of these qualifications. When we need to accommodate everyone. But lets start with the seniors. [bell ringing] we have no options. We have serious disabilities and other situations. We cant go out and get three jobs. And even if we can work, one parttime job, were faced with widespread age discrimination. Its up to the board to set policy to cure this inequality. Its emerging. Its here. Its relentlessly growing. Please support s. O. S. Save our seniors from this crisis of inequality. [bell ringing] thank you. Good morning, again. Marie. Representing the Dignity Fund Coalition. What were passing forward to you is a letter thats signed by over 20 organizations in support of the measure today to highlight the recommendations, one to support and fully fund the s. O. S. Housing affordability demonstration program. Two, to commit to build more affordable Senior Housing. And to really commit ourselves to an ongoing effort to meet the needs of seniors and adults with disabilities. As a Dignity Fund Coalition representative, were really proud of what we were able to do in terms of getting more services available, but that legislation also dictated a comprehensive Needs Assessment, and that Needs Assessment puts a very fine and impassioned plea to do something about the lack of affordable, accessible housing for people here in the city. If you take a few minutes to scan down the list of those who have supported this measure, youll see its a good a good group of folks who really care about the citizens in San Francisco. And the residents here and are committed to support this measure. If you make your way all the way to the bottom of this letter, youll see a picture, a chart. Really a chart, picture is sometimes worth a thousand words. When you see here is what you see here is a chart that shows the substantial part of the older adults of San Francisco are categorically excluded from the Affordable Housing housing t youre building. Its another kind of red lining and its not okay. And its not fair or just. [bell ringing] so we just ask that you move forward and support this measure today with the amendments that the supervisor yee has presented. Thank you. Good morning, chair ronen, supervisors walton and mar and board president yee. Im the director of Housing Development for chinatown c. D. C. As chair ronen noted, we, along with our partners at meta, are currently developing 1296 shotwell. The building designed to serve lowincome seniors. While we run our buildings efficiently, the cost to operate this building is about 857 per unit, per month. Since the building has no commercial or wealth are residents to cross subsidy, we need each household to pay that level of rent. That limits our ability to serve lowincome and extremely lowincome seniors. S. O. S. Provides an opportunity for us to serve a broader range of needs for lowincome seniors. While theres still some challenges, some issues to be resolved and the timing of this legislation is challenging for our project, we have confidence that we can work with kate and o. C. D. To o. These issues and get a program in place to benefit e. L. I. Seniors at 1296 shotwell. Were excited to serve a broader range of need for lowincome seniors. Thank you. Supervisor ronen thank you. Any other member of the public who would like to speak on the item . Seeing none, Public Comment is closed. [gavel] president yee. President yee thank you very much. I want to thank the public for coming out. And this is really the beginning of finding some solutions for the those seniors that are on those fixed incomes, and even those that are a little above fixed income to qualify. And, you know, maybe if i have more time, i would have just said, well, lets wait a couple years and figure out the longterm solution. But i think this is the shortterm solution, that can that we could actually implement right away. So i want to thank all of the community members, faith in action, c. T. A. , Community Living campaign, senior disability action, dignity fund, c. D. C. And other organizations that have chimed in into this issue. Now faith in action actually came to visit my office last week. And i was fortunately there. And they put out, you know, the issues beyond what this can solve. I made a commitment to them that they and i want to announce it today, that in regards to your longterm, you know, broader fix, for those so we can actually, as someone mentioned, that this fixes so that seniors can actually just pay 30 of their income, regardless if theyre on fixed income or a little bit above. So i will be, as i mentioned to them, forming a working group that will look at those solutions that we could actually work on. So in the next most likely i wont form it until after our august recess, since we only have a few weeks left. But thats my commitment. I just want to make sure faith in action, other groups that are here, that we will be reaching out to you to see if you have interest in being part of that committee. Thank you. And what i ask is that you we go ahead and make those amendments and pass it on to committee for positive recommendation, as amended. Supervisor ronen fantastic. If we can take the amendments without objection, those amendments pass unanimously. And then if we all make a motion to recommend, as amended, to the full board and without objection, that motion passes unanimously. [gavel] president yee thank you. Supervisor ronen thank you, president yee. Growing gracias. Mr. Clerk, can you please read item number 3. Ill see you on friday. [laughter] very effective organizing. [laughter] clerk item number 3, is a Charter Amendment to amend the charter of city and county of San Francisco to create the Homelessness Oversight Commission to oversee the department of homelessness and Supportive Housing. To require the commissioner to review and disapprove or modify criteria to be used to ascertain eligibility or priority for programs and or services operated or provided by the department. The opening or closer of homeless shelters, navigation shirts or other facilities to provide shelters to unsheltered persons and contracts and grant agreements with annual value exceeding 200,000. Supervisor ronen thank you very much. And supervisor haney is the sponsor of this measure has joined us. Supervisor haney. Supervisor haney thank you, chair ronen and youre also a coauthor of it. Supervisor ronen thats right. Supervisor haney thank you so much for having me here today to hear this important item. So in february, we were approached by Service Providers asking us to look into how we could facilitate stronger policies to address homelessness, through increased transparency, public input and accountability. Since then weve been working with the deputy of homelessness and Supportive Housing and the Mayors Office to carefully craft a common sense proposal to ensure a more coordinated and streamlined response for our citys number one priority, getting people off the street quicker. Everyone agrees were in a crisis, as evidented by the point in time count, despite increasing investments in Supportive Housing, services and measures to prevent homelessness, were still seeing the problem in many ways getting worse. We all agree we need to deliver more Effective Service to get people into shelter and Supportive Housing. Weve also heard from everyone, from the mayor during last years prop c campaign that we need more accountability. And we need to Work Together. Disjointed, patchwork and slow decisionmaking hurts the people we are trying to serve, from the state to the local level, governments are getting more creative and acting with more urgency to address homelessness and we need to continue pushing to do the same. We consider multiple options to address these challenges. Could we modify and strengthen our current advisory committees . Should we make more internal changes in the department . And what we found was actually pretty obvious and i think common sense. Nearly every city department, with a budget over 10 million, has a formal Oversight Commission that provides support to the department and creates a public venue where decisions can be made. The fact that the department of homelessness does not have one is the exception and not the normal. The department commissions have long been part of the fabric of San Francisco City Government and public engagement. The fire, rec and park, library, Police Department, department of public health, airport, d. B. I. , i could go on and on, all have one. Its only served to expand the departments ability to enact and speed up thoughtful, effective policies and streamline and centralize public dialogue. They play a Critical Role in many of our citys leaders, from our current mayor to many past and current members of the board of supervisors, have served on commissions and recognize their value. The standard role of a commission is to defined in the charter. They do more than advise, they have the formal authority to approve or disapprove policies and budgets. They hold Public Meetings and hearings reviewing and approving policies for the department, guiding overall strategies and making recommendations to the mayor, the board of supervisors. Theyre a function of Good Government and protect the publics interest in open government, transparency and good policy. And they provide informed recommendations and insure Due Diligence. Instead of a formal streamlined approach to oversight and governance, the department currently has six different advisory committees, five that are currently operating. They have advisory functions relating to a particular narrow piece of the overall system. The result is a patchwork, unwieldy, unpredictable burdensome structure that fails to provide effective oversight. No one, including the department, thinks that the current approach is working. When we set out to form this commission, we had three primary goals. One, more streamline and coordinated support for those experiencing homelessness and those living in Supportive Housing. This includes a more coordinated and simple advisory and oversight structure, that allows the public to have a centralized venue to provide feedback to a body that has real recognized authority and power. Secondly, more accountable decisionmaking, where a commission can have formal authority and exercise the power of inquiry. They can ask the tough questions about the departments plans, its strategies and accelerate timelines and more effective responses. And thirdly, more transparent budgeting and spending. A problem that has been identified by the mayor, by advocates and by those experiencing homelessness. So what we have crafted here today, with a handful of amendments that i hope this committee will adopt, accomplishes meeting the departments strategic goals by taking this patchwork advisory structure and better coordinating it, by having all bodies report to the commission. Secondly, creating a clear public venue for members of the public, people experiencing homelessness, experts and advocates to learn about and influence proposed policy and budget changes. For providers and people senioring homelessness, this is an important way for them to be informed about policy changes that may impact them directly. For example, would be a place where the department could present on the recent pit count report, give their plans for next steps, and provide a venue for experts impacted people in the public to learn about those plans and provide input into them. Third, creating a venue to create stronger policies without delay. The commission would be empowered to investigate contracting delays and set timelines and goals for policies to speed things up. Fourth, having the commission approve the budget, which will provide transparency and inform the mayor and board of supervisors as they approve the city budget. Importantly, no advisory body heard the budget this year until it was approved. Theyre only one of the large departments that did not have the same level of review as most other large departments, before the budget was brought in front of the board of supervisors. Five, creating more buyin by bringing together diverse stakeholders. This will support the implementation of new policy directives, by making sure that providers are informed about new requirements, eligibility, et cetera. And be able to communicate and implement them. The appointment structure itself was very intentionally created. It supports shared governance, three of the appointments will be from the mayor. Three from the board of supervisors and one from the controller, which is a change from our initial proposal. The appointments themselves are people with direct experience and expertise, including individuals who experienced homelessness and provide direct services. The second draft that im bringing forward today, i think you all have a copy of it, was republic fleck reflects a number of changes. As i said, the seven appointment seats a new line specifies that commissioners may be removed by their appointing authorities at any time. We explicitly state the commissioners shall set agendas. The commission explicitly has the authority to assess the departments effective and Timely Delivery of services. The new version removes the jurisdiction of commission to approve or disapprove contracts procured under the shelter crisis ordinance. It removes the requirement that all shelters be approved by the commission and requires that the board of supervisors introduce trailing legislation to clean up and coordinate the existing advisory structure to the department. The local homelessness coordinating board, s. M. C. , the shelter monitoring committee, our city, our Home Committee will now report to the commission. And the ordinance is already being drafted and the board would be required to pass that ordinance by the time the committee is seated. These changes take into account the daytoday experiences of Service Providers, who are implementing the departments policies, as well as the daytoday operations of the department and their longterm strategic plans. Before i wrap up, i want to clarify two things. First, an example of the powerful role that commissions play. The Police Commission may be one of the more wellknown commissions, has been able to accomplish significant policy changes in recent years, including improving the Police Departments response to violence against women and children, expanding the use of technology to solve crime, reforming the citys use of force policy, instituting bodyworn cameras to increase transparency and improving policecommunity relations. I think its hard for us to imagine a Police Department without a Police Commission at this stage. Second, i want to respond directly to the idea that this commission will slow things down on add bureaucracy. No one has ever said the Fire Commission makes it harder for the Fire Department to respond to emergencies. No one has ever said the rec and Park Commission makes it harder for our city to open new parks. And i dont think anyone has said because we have an airport commission, that planes wont take off. Commissions are a critical, integral part of our citys government, because they are there to ensure that the job gets done, not that it gets delayed. Theyre made up of people who we have appointed for that very purpose. In this case, people who have direct experience with homelessness or are providers. Currently if a decision, policy or response is delayed or buried in the department, there is no public venue to hold the department to timelines and ask tough questions. With all due respect, i dont know anyone who believes by leaving decisionmaking solely to bureaucrats, that things are going to move faster. Thats not the experience that most of us have with government. The reason why we have commissions is so that we can share our plans with the public and allow them to give input and hold us accountable for those plans, including results and timelines. When we dont get it right, when we dont listen to those with direct experience, when we dont take public input on the front end, were not only more likely to cause delays, but more likely to get it wrong and repeatedly start back over. Lastly, we are doing the opposite of adding bureaucracy with this proposal. We are taking a patchwork, unpredictable, burdensome advisory structure, that we currently have, that nobody thinks is working, and aligning with every other large city department, with the goal of streamlining, centralizing and clarifying. This will save time, add clarity and reduce barriers to Effective Service delivery. In closing, homelessness is too big of a priority to not treat the department with the same Due Diligence we do every err other department that controls a large budget. It is both unreasonable and reckless to have a department that oversees the most urgent priority, have less accountable, oversight, transparency and public input than nearly any other city department. I think this is a common sense proposal. Of Good Governance. It will far outlast even the current director, who has been a collaborative partner in helping us improve this. And it will outlast all of us here on the board of supervisors as well. Its critical for us to have a governance structure in place that the public can engage with effectively, that the board of supervisors and the mayor can engage with effectively. That people who are experiencing homelessness can engage with effectively. And that ensures a response to this most critical priority that we have, this crisis that we have in a way that gets people off the streets, with the services they need, as quickly as possible. Supervisor ronen thank you, supervisor haney, i want to thank you for bringing this piece of legislation forward. Given look, homelessness has always been been a major issue in San Francisco. Its a problem that has plagued our city and our state and our country. And thats because we in this country have not made housing a right, an entitlement. Which is what it should be, a right. Until it is a right and until we have adequate federal investment once again in building housing that people can afford, were going to continue to have a homeless problem in our state. And because of the weather and because of cities that have humane policies like these, a lot of people come to california when they are homeless. Theyre either from here and kicked out of their homes, which weve seen happen in San Francisco at alarming rates recently, as prices for housing have skyrocketed, and they live throughout the state, because it is possible to survive on the streets, where it doesnt snow quite frankly. And so we, as a city and as a state, have to address this crisis head on, especially when the federal government is falling asleep at the wheel on this one. Until we get a change of administration, is falls on us toot the bulk of the work around this issue. Now we have a commission overseeing our Police Department, our Fire Department, our airport, our health department, our ethics department, our planning department, all of the most important issues facing our city. We have a commission of citizens, whose job it is to make sure that the department are responding to the actual crisis or the actual area of their expertise and their work, with care and transparent and open ways that respond to the communities that are being impacted. And i dont see why homelessness should be any exception to this rule in our city. It works. Its important. And its time has come. Thank you, supervisor haney, for taking leadership on this issue. And i will now turn it over to supervisor walton. Supervisor walton thank you so much, chair ronen. Just want to add my two cents to support of this ordinance. And, you know, i know how difficult it can be working to be transparent and efficient at the same time, but provides a place for the community to provide input and learn about the strategies the city is using to address homelessness is important. And we do have several different bodies that Work Together to provide opportunities for conversations about suggestions and what they want to see. But the reality of it is is theres no one place that my constituents can or constituents can go to, to come be heard about the issues that exist. So what happens is you have my colleagues and i sending emails, texts, et cetera and everything we can to department leadership, trying to address all of the areas in our neighborhoods. This can also be a venue for fox and community to come have conversations about what theyre seeing and provide action plans and strategies, working together. So that part is important as well. I want to commend supervisor haney for the common sense amendments, particularly making it easier to continue to improve navigation, centers to continue to approve emergency shelters, particularly during times of a shelter crisis. And were responsible for Good Governance here. [ please stand by [ please stand by ] supervisor walton . Chair ronen thank you so much. Supervisor walton reminded me given the mayors reason for opposing prop c was the fact she didnt believe her own department could responsibly spend the money, i believe that this commission will provide the oversight so that we can make sure that the company that the company . That the department spends the money responsibly, transparently, and with the whole city watching. This seems like a nobrainer for all of us, and thank you very much for bringing it forward. And with that, i dont know, director kosinski, if you wanted to say anything or if i should open it up for Public Comment. Good morning, supervisors. Jeff kosinski, director, department of homelessness and public housing. One, i just want to thank supervisor haney and his staff for working so closely with us on this legislation. Its so different on what was submitted. I thought courtney did a good job of presenting it with a really good visual. We do appreciate that, and i also want to state that we are in no way against and agree that more accountability and especially having a public forum where all of these issues can be heard is incredibly important. As supervisor haney pointed out, theres four or five different bodies, so if you want to talk about shelters, theres two places you can go. If you want to talk about federal funding, theres one place you can go. We are very much in agreement with that and also agree with supervisor haney and walton that this will outlast all of us and should outlast all of us. That said, i think there are still some differences that we have with the Supervisors Office and im wondering whether or not this is best handled through an ordinance which would require any time there is a change, it would need to go back to the voters in the event we dont get things right now. So there are some areas we have some concerns. I just want to be clear, and just a few random things we have come up with over time. I think it does provide accountability and does provide a public forum. It will slow down permits that are not covered by the public ordinance by six weeks approximately. Im not saying thats a problem or not a problem. Its just another step we would have to have in the process. I would point out a lot of folks have brought to the local coordinator concerns of hsoc. If the commission decided they did not want h. S. H. To be involved and would not put a budget in there, i suppose thats the kind of leverage theyd have, but it wouldnt be over hsoc in general. And i think thats about it. Were not closed off to the idea of a commission. Think theres still some outstanding problems with the way that its written, and i think it should be an ordinance rather than a chart amendment, but i agree that supervisor haney is working very hard. With that, im happy for the opportunity to speak and answer any questions if they come up. Chair fewer thank you very much, director kosinski. Supervisor haney
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