clapping. in San Francisco the medical examiner performs the function of investigating medical and legal that occurs with the city and county of San Francisco from a variety of circumstances in San Francisco there is approximately 5 thousand deaths annually im christopher director for the chief mr. Chairman the chief my best testimony a at the hall of justice on 870 drooint street that is dramatically updated and not sufficient for the medical chairman facility ive Charles Program manager public works should a earthquake of a major are proportion occurs well not continue to perform the services or otherwise inhabit the building before the earthquake. Were in a facility that was designs for a department that functions and in the mid 60s and friends scientific has significantly changed weve had significant problems with Storage Capacity for evidence items of property and also personal protective if youre doing a job on a daily basis current little storage for prirjs are frirnlsz were in an aging facility the total project cost forever ever commercial is 65 million the funding was brought by a vote of go bond approved by the voters and the locations is in the neighborhood the awarded contract in 2013 and the im the executive director we broke ground in november 2015 and that started with the demolition of existing facility we moved into the foundation and january so Pile Foundation and then with second construction of the new facility. One of the ways that we keep our project on time on budget and were having quality to have regular meeting and the variety of meetings with construction process meeting as well as cost of control meeting and im a project manager for public works the office of chief commercial we want walk the project site when we sign up and also with a contractor insinuates for a change over we need to verify what or what was instead of. The building is 42 feet tall so it is two stories and 46 thousand square feet roughly were thats a great question to be on time and budget have the roof complete a the exterior moving with the site work. And as you can see weve got a lot of the interior finishes installed. In an effort of an differentiate the facility that designed to work for 72 hours. Not taking into account there was a lot of structural updates made into this building not seen in other construction throughout San Francisco or other barriers we have friday morning examiners from 8 to one Public Comment monday to friday because of air circulation we literally have to shut the doors and so the autopsy is done without staffing being able to come and go or exit the space and literally lock down the autopsy in the new facility we have bio build one door opens and closed behind you you can gown up and go through a second seizures of doors that has its own independent air supply and now in the exterior opt space having that middle space have greater flexibility of staff as they move in and out of the area. In the current facility Investigative Unit has small tiny, tiny place in the area of the new facility is almost doubled in all divisions from the current facility and the new facility. The planning we have here gives them the opportunity to have the pool needs to complete theirs jobs in a much more streamlined fashion. Were looking forward to have secured parking to minimize the egress of you know visiting and the members of the public but really to minimize the investigators remaining remains from our advancing and so the facility. We have a new visitors area were building that is a little bit more friendly to families. One thing you may notice in the room no windows there is no Natural Light not good for most autopsy but in the new facility at new hall we made that an objective they want to insure we were able to look up in the middle of exam and see the sky and see Natural Lights. Thats one of the things the architect did to draw in as much light as possible. We have staff here onsite we insure the design of the new design enables the investigators and other investigators skiefksz to consider to house on site this meant we needed to design and plan for locker room facilities and shower rooms the ability to sleep. Third of the construction going into the building has been by contributions of small businesses. Part of the project is also inclusive to the sidewalk have all new sidewalks and new curve cuts and landscaping around the building well have a syrup in front of the building and rain guardian. The medical Examiners Office has been a several if in their contributions of the understanding the exception and needs. Its a building that the chief medical examiner has been looking forward to quite a few of the. It is extremely valuable contribution to the, neighborhood address San Francisco as a whole. The building will allow is to have greater very much and serve the city and county of San Francisco and the neighboring mayor farrell first i want to start off on this amazing San Francisco day by thanking phil tinge in securing the 10 million funding allocation for the state and overall support for the homelessness initiatives. I want to thank seniors ronen, cohen and kim. And their willingness to open these crucial centers in their districts and be part of the vote to accept and expend the 10 million of funding. I want to acknowledge david chu for his commitment to tackling californias issues up in sacramento and homeless issues as well. Were honored to have great leaders just as tinge and chu up in sacramento representing the members of San Francisco. Were all here because we understand that our city like our cities across the state of california, is undergoing a homelessness crisis. Our streets and sidewalks are filled with people who are struggling with Mental Health challenge, drug addiction and poverty. This cannot be the status quo. It cannot be the new normal and it is not something were going to accept here in San Francisco. Homelessness is a complex issue that requires a full gamut of solutions. We have to prevent people from losing their homes and were doing such great work as a city, when you think about the move assistance programs, the eviction prevention programs and the grants we have that remove barriers to housing. Were doing that work here in San Francisco. In the unfortunate circumstances where people do lose their homes, we have to pursue measures that are successful and proven here in the city of San Francisco. Such as our homeward bound and Navigation Centers, truly working to save the lives of people on the streets every day. These centers are a crucial part of the program in San Francisco, compassion. But commonsense in addressing homelessness. We cannot allow our residents, those that are living on our streets to live in unsanitary, inhumane tent encampments. Nobody is Getting Better sleeping in a tent at night. We have to do everything we can to get people off the streets and into better lives. Since our first Navigation Center opened, we have taken 2000 people off the streets. With the help of this funding, were going to open two new Navigation Centers that will provide 250 new beds, helping our goal as a city to move one thousand people off the streets this winter. These are impressive numbers, but our Navigation Centers and our efforts as city are not about numbers, theyre about individuals, about helping those individuals on the streets. As i said before, these are our mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, we need to do everything we can to help get them onto better lives. Were lucky to be joined today and im honored to have standing by me,up. I want to tell you about johns story. John was served here at the dog patch and this morning got amazing news, since moving in the bay area 19 years old, john has experienced homelessness and drug abuse challenges, but last year he was put in touch with the Navigation Center and his life has turned around. Hes been a model resident. Acquired all the documents, Social Security card, Mental Health certification, his birth certificate. Applied for every Program Including receiving his cal fresh benefits. He kept all his scheduled points with his case manager and complied with all scheduled Mental Health meetings. All that hard work and commitment has now paid off. Just this morning, john told me, he was notified that he has been given a place in the Supportive Housing unit here in San Francisco. [applause] and heres the notice. This is what were talking about. This is the benefit of our Navigation Centers. Taking individuals who are living homeless on our streets, people like john, who we need to embrace as a city and now we have the proof and now john is going to be into housing. That is what we need to do in San Francisco time and time again. Its the reason why we continue to support our Navigation Centers. Why we continue to thank all the staff that are here today that work in the Navigation Centers, that john has worked with so closely over the past few months. And these are the reasons why were so grateful to Assembly Member tinge for his hard work in sacramento to secure the funding for these two Navigation Centers in San Francisco. And to everybody here on the board of supervisors for working together on the initiatives. It is what we need to do in the city of San Francisco and its what were doing in the city of San Francisco. There is no better proof than hearing the stories and seeing the piece of paper with johns name on it and individuals getting into housing. With that, i want to introduce our great partner in San Francisco and worked to get the funding, Assembly Member, phil ting. Thank you very much, mr. Mayor. I just wanted to thank you personally. Youve been fighting on this issue during your entire time in office and during the entire time on the board, its been your number one issue. I also wanted to thank the three other supervisors, cohen, ronen and kim. They have been incredible advocates. Tireless advocates on this issue and every day having a laserlike focus. I wanted to acknowledge my partner in sacramento, a housing warrior, weve been working up there not just to fight homelessness, but tacking this housing crisis that has been affecting us. I know jeff sparks is here from senator weiners office. Thank you for being here, senator weiner couldnt be here. Theyre at a Senate Democratic caucus retreat today unfortunately. But as we know, homelessness is a crisis, not just in San Francisco, but up and down the state. We talked about 7500 people who are homeless today. A couple thousand people every single night on our streets in every single neighborhood. I live on the west side and the west side is not immune to homelessness at all. If you go take a walk through, run through golden gate park, you see a number of folks who have used that as their nightly bedroom. I had a homeless person who decided to sleep in my car for a little while because they were looking for shelter when it was parked in front of my house. This is an issue that has touched every one of us. I agree with the mayor, we cannot accept this as the new normal. L. A. Has a Homeless Population around 4050,000 people. That would be a mediumsized city here in the bay area. We know this is not just a city problem, its no a county problem, this is not a state problem, its a federal problem and we know in california we have to do our part and step up to the plate. Thats why i was so proud to work with the supervisors, the Mayors Office in making sure we got 10 million for Navigation Centers, for housing tied to services, for housing that is meant not just to be temporary shelter, but shelter that is going to move people like john onto more Permanent Solutions, so they dont have to choose where to sleep tonight. They can have a life moving forward. And thats why im so excited to work with the city that really gets it. This is something that is not just happening in San Francisco. We had a number of colleagues. We funded Navigation Centers in elk grove, in modeso county. People are popping up on their doors steps, in their streets, in their parks. Theyre looking for help. We hear that message in sacramento. Were going to be working hard this year to tackle this issue, which is a statewide and National Issue and we cannot accept we have people on the streets every single night, counting that as their bedroom. We have to do something about it. We cannot accept that as an alternative or as something that is ok to happen in San Francisco or really anywhere in california. So, with that, let me turn it offense over to my colleague, david chu, who has been a real partner in this effort. [applause] i had a San Francisco experience this morning, my first interview with my son, 2 years old, for nursery school, im sorry about that. But i know today is in part a celebration for john. And i want to congratulate you for what we just learned, but were here because there are still thousands of san franciscans, men, women, children, families. There are hundreds of thousands of californians who are suffering every day on the streets of our golden state. There is so much more that we need to do to address this. Phil referred to the fact this is not just a crisis in San Francisco, its a crisis in california. When i went to the legislature in 2014, we had the highest rates of homelessness in the country here in california. 20 of americas homeless here in our state. Today, that statistic is 25 . In 2014, one out of three, chronically homeless americans live in california. Today that statistic is 42 . The crisis that has been here in our city is now all over the state. We read about hepatitis a outbreaks in san diego, but e. Coli in the american river, near the sacramento delta. We read about the pain and suffering that were seeing everywhere, every corner of our state. I want to take a moment and thank all of the men and women behind us who have come together with this, starting with phil ting. Its been amazing Partnership Working with him, trying move forward an agenda that addresses not just our houses crisis but homelessness crisis. As well as all the supervisors, the mayor, the department heads, the leaders moving this forward. San francisco is leading the way when it comes to pioneering this model of Navigation Centers and that is incredibly important. We know the work is not going to end here. Last year, we were fortunate to move forward a Historic Housing package that creates a permanent source of funding for housing. This year, half of that money is going to address homelessness around the state of california. I want to thank Governor Brown for signing a bill, housing for california which pilots the idea that Supportive Housing after Navigation Centers is the most effective way to take care and take folks off the street. That being said, the work is not ending. I know every elected official here is continuing to strive to make sure that some day we dont have anyone who is homeless on our streets. Phil and i have more things were going to say on the topic, but i want to thank all of you for being part of the compassion that is the city of st. Francis. Thank you very much. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is hillary ronen, im the supervisor of district 9, which includes the Mission District which has been plagued by tent encampments in many years. As in johns case, the only thing that really solves homelessness is housing. But the thing that solves street homelessness, People Living in tent encampments on our street, dangerous conditions and squalor are Navigation Centers. Im so proud of the work i did with phil ting. When i got into officer a year ago and was able to security the temporary navigation sent which allowed us to reduce the number of tents in the mission from at a high before the Navigation Center opened, of 246 tents, to today, or actually yesterday, of 40 tents in the mission. That work was only possible because we opened that temporary Navigation Center. I did that together with n