We have about 25 of our population thats at or below the poverty line, so you have to look at rate structures that are tiered so the people can pay their bills. Franklin we would love to have Something Like 75 federal money. We do get some federal aid and we are thankful, but on the other hand, were paying for this primarily with new rates. We have increased our rates to among the highest in america. But not nearly as much as if we hadnt passed a onecent sales tax dedicated to water and sewer infrastructure. Hunter that sales tax counts for about a third of the revenue of the department right now. Franklin we got 75 of the voters to agree to tax themselves so that their children and their childrens children could have clean water because were investing in it now. Hunter there were no alternatives. The infrastructure was in dire straits. A lot of people didnt want to believe it had to be done, but it had to be done. What came out of those lawsuits by the upper chattahoochee river keeper
Bertacelli. Supervisor farrell. Phil has been here every step of the way. This started with this started with two organizations that have now merged into a really wonderful one organization. Those two former organizations were brought us two great people to work with. They were Isabelle Wade and karen kid well. I dont know if either one of them is here today. ~ now we have matt owe grade i speaking to you from the merge park trust. Im sorry, San Francisco Parks Alliance. ~ we cant forget that, theyre doing so much. This is our parks citizens parks group. Okay, lizy hirsch, please come up. We want to raise hands with you. applause mary hobson. Jeff miller. [cheering and applauding] okay. And carina bonamo who was this incredible playground in the most beautiful park in San Francisco, weve already heard that online. It is now officially the most beautiful park in San Francisco. [cheering and applauding] with the most amazing playground. And this was a dream that carina had. She moved it
Gk, construction manager, mary hobson, project manager. [cheering and applauding] director of capital planning, don. Our great operations staff, zach taylor, judy auberry who is here, and everyone else who has contributed to this incredible project. So, at rec and park, were encoloneling people to get out and play. Thats our tag line, get ready, 1, 2, 3. Get out and play. We say that because of the importance of keeping our families active and healthy. This is a real serious issue. According to the center for disease control, Childhood Obesity has more than doubled in our children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years. In 2010 more than onethird of our children were overweight or obese. It is important that we get our kids outside. Our children today average over 71 2 hours behind a screen. Listen to that. 71 2 hours behind a screen, less than 30 minutes a day outside. That has to change. And this playground helps get it done. And i wanted to just offer a quick quote from ric
Quick quote from richard lu who is the author of a book called the nature principle which encourage uz us to reconnect with nature and create a balance between nature and the ever evolving world of technology. ~ he says imagine a world in which all children grow up with a deep understanding of the life around them, where obesity is reduced through nature play, where children experience the joy of being in nature before they learn of its loss. Where they can lie on the grass on a hillside for hours, and watch clouds become the faces of the future. Where every child and every adult has a human right to a connection to the Natural World and shares the responsibility for caring for it. Thats the community, thats the world, thats the park that all of you have created today. And i want to say that while were here looking at this amazing playground which, by the way, has the worlds im not kidding the worlds longest monkey bars. Woohoo and as the father of a daughter who has broken not one, bu
With nature and create a balance between nature and the ever evolving world of technology. ~ he says imagine a world in which all children grow up with a deep understanding of the life around them, where obesity is reduced through nature play, where children experience the joy of being in nature before they learn of its loss. Where they can lie on the grass on a hillside for hours, and watch clouds become the faces of the future. Where every child and every adult has a human right to a connection to the Natural World and shares the responsibility for caring for it. Thats the community, thats the world, thats the park that all of you have created today. And i want to say that while were here looking at this amazing playground which, by the way, has the worlds im not kidding the worlds longest monkey bars. Woohoo and as the father of a daughter who has broken not one, but two arms on monkey bars, im extremely fired up about that. applause but this park is more than just the playground. F