Milton never stopped advocating for what he believed that the kreakdz and maintenance of San Franciscos Forestry Program was civic involvement and support and i think milton would appreciate that if we knock on supervisors doors and do some advocacy since were all here anyway. Although milton didnt relish the work he had to do in these halls he knew it was necessary for the canopy outside to grow and thrive and lets remember where his legacy really lies and it gives me solace to know that his sons will see him imprint in San Francisco every time they walk down the street. Lets all look up and remember him this way. Thank you. [applause] we get to meet miltons niece zoey marks. I was think about the past 19 years with my uncle milton in preparation for writing this piece but i was really stumped. How could i encapsulate such a generous relationship i had with my uncle in five minutes . As a last resort i went to facebook and the refuge for all bored teenagers especially late at night. T
Said let me find out what this guy is about. Lets talk and that was very fitting because thats exactly how i knew him to operate as a Public Servant and a person. He wanted to talk about the china town campus and talk about my background. He asked if we should build a campus, and i said its something that we should do and there was certainly overwhelming support for the campus, but characteristic of his style and his principles he was never afraid to question power, or to question the popular way, and he had many good points, and that was very typical of what i have known him to be as a servant at city college. It was very difficult in his position, often being the one vote out of seven, often finding rubber stamping of a decision, fighting the way we were spending our money for ten years. Ten years he was in a position most of the time alone trying to speak up and say why are we doing this . Were running the college into the ground. This shouldnt be the way things should be, and when
Me you dont cut the trees down. We have to take care of our environment. We need a rich canopy of trees in the city and this what is means to so many people, and he was one of strong voice bs our environment. He has been known for that and in the years of 2000 he took up the College Trustee on the board. Many of you know in the past years he was passionate about his work at city college. He knew, and again we had the opportunity to share what we got out of college and what so many generations of youth would want and desire in our city college. He was leading the effort in my opinion to restore and to elevate the level of integrity and transparency at our city college. He demanded that of the other trustees as well as the administration. He went through some hard times as a trustee and shared with members here of the difficult years when things werent as transparent as they should have been and integrity wasnt at the top of someones mindful priorities but this is something he stood for.
Afraid to question power, or to question the popular way, and he had many good points, and that was very typical of what i have known him to be as a servant at city college. It was very difficult in his position, often being the one vote out of seven, often finding rubber stamping of a decision, fighting the way we were spending our money for ten years. Ten years he was in a position most of the time alone trying to speak up and say why are we doing this . Were running the college into the ground. This shouldnt be the way things should be, and when i got into the board and i concluded the same thing and i said milton god bless you. I couldnt have been here for ten years and put up with this stuff. And he just laughed and smiled and thank god he had been there for the people of San Francisco for city college and more importantly the students of that institutionifieding that fight when no one really cared about what was happening over there. It was very easy not to care. I think that tel
Irreplaceable friend miltion marks. Today we will hear tributes and memories from those that knew milton in many aspects of his life and work, and i think together these memories and tributes will begin to form a mosaic of the multidimensional man he was. I use that word because i wrote it yesterday afternoon want thinking of the mosaic of words, and the word cloud that abbey and will and you collaborated on to express the many dimensions of milton markses and you can look at those expressions of milton and likely add your own. Like i said you will be from a number of folks giving their thoughts and tributes to milton today and please stay for the reception afterwards. Sign the guest books which are now outside. Some of you may have come in before they were placed and together we will create our word cloud and mosaic of milton. To begin its my honor to introduce the mayor of San Francisco, the honorable edwin lee. Thank you peter. Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to city hall. Its my h