CAMPOS CONNECT: MUNI Audit, New Leg Aide, and Community Office Hrs

Photo Credit: Brandon Joseph Baker

Greetings!

Greetings! I hope that you enjoyed the first month of the new decade. It has been a wet couple of weeks but it hasn't stopped business in the city for a minute! This is the next issue of Campos Connect, the monthly newsletter that allows me to inform you about big developments in City Hall and throughout our district.

I want to first congratulate Bernal Heights on the beautifully renovated library branch that just reopened. It is truly lovely! I hope that everyone who has not had the chance will find time to stop by and see it.

If you are not aware, I am actively looking for ways to help Muni become more accountable, transparent and responsive to its ridership. To this end, I have requested an official management and performance audit of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). The full board will vote on this issue next week and I am hopeful that it will pass. It has been 14 years since the last management audit of the system, and it is important that we analyze all aspects of Muni's expenses and performance so that we may best address its future needs. In addition to the audit, I'm working with a broad coalition of neighborhood and public transit activists to put together a possible charter amendment (for the November ballot) to make sure that Muni's governing structure is more independent, accountable and transparent. We will keep you informed of our progress. Our goal is to make Muni as effective and reliable as possible.

It has come to my attention that the public pool in Garfield Park is closed for maintenance and has been for some time now. This past week I submitted a Letter of Inquiry to the Department of Recreation and Parks. In this letter, I asked for information regarding the current maintenance status of the pool, particularly when it will reopen. Beyond this, I have also inquired about budgetary concerns on the whole pool system in the city. It is important that we maintain equitable neighborhood access to this important resource that is offered in the city. I know how much this pool means to everyone in District 9 and I will certainly find out what is happening so that you may get back to the business of swimming as soon as possible.

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At the end of January, I held my first community office hours, which is something I will be repeating throughout the year and throughout the District. At least once a month, I will spend some time at a different business in District 9 where I welcome all constituents to bring their concerns directly to me while also supporting a local business. I was very pleased with the turn out as well as the passion and wide-range of issues that the residents of District 9 presented to me. I am very excited for the next meetings and look forward to meeting you in the District! (See upcoming dates)

This month we also introduced legislation that makes the 311 Call Center accessible to a very vulnerable population -- residents of single-room occupancy (SRO) hotels, who historically have had problems navigating the City's bureaucracy to address some very important concerns about their living conditions. The legislation would require SRO hotels to post signs informing tenants that they can call 311 to report violations of the housing code. 311, in collaboration with the Department of Building Inspection, the Fire Department, the Department of Public Health, community advocates and our office, has created a one-stop shop to ensure that tenant problems are addressed in an appropriate and timely manner.

Finally, as many of you are aware, we have been looking to hire a new Legislative Aide. With the assistance of Sheila Chung Hagen of my office, we put together an extensive and thorough selection progress that attracted more than 200 applicants, including numerous top-notch candidates. Selecting from such a strong pool of applicants was one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make and I want to thank all the applicants for putting their names forward.

Even though it was a very difficult choice, I could not be happier about our selection of Hillary Ronen. Hillary is a very special person. She has all the qualities and experience you want in a Legislative Aide. I know that she will do a great job for District 9. She and Sheila will make an impressive team. I hope you have an opportunity to get to know Hillary in the very near future. Hillary will be starting on March 1, 2010. A brief bio of Hillary is included in this newsletter.

Thank you again for reading our newsletter and I hope to see you in City Hall or in the District.

Warm Regards,

David Campos