This Holiday season, I'm especially grateful to the 24,044 voters like you who allowed me to continue serving you for another term representing District 9. The months leading up to November were filled with so many wonderful conversations with District 9 residents like yourself. Being back on the campaign trail I was reminded how special this District is, and how lucky I am to be of service to it. As the year approaches it's end, my office and I are reflecting on what we've accomplished this year and thinking up more ways to work for you in 2013. Here's some of what we're working on right now:

 

 Free Muni for Low-Income Youth

 

 After two years of advocating for increased transit access for our youth, I'm proud to announce that the Free Muni for Low-Income Youth pilot program will launch in March 2013!  Last month, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, a regional transportation funding agency on which I serve, approved the remaining $1.6 million needed to start the 16-month pilot program.  We had previously secured $5.3 million from local and county sources. Yesterday, the SFMTA Board of Directors unanimously green lighted the program, which is estimated to serve more than 40,000 low and middle-income youth in San Francisco. I am grateful to POWER, Chinatown Community Development Center, the San Francisco Youth Commission, Urban Habitat, the Student Advisory Council, and Jamestown Community Center for championing this effort.  Also, thank you to the SFMTA, the School District, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Supervisors Avalos, Chiu, Cohen, Kim, Mar, and Olague for supporting and investing in the next generation of public transit riders.

 

Free Muni for Low-Income Youth Victory Party

 Housing Dashboard Legislation   

 

Supervisor Olague and I co-sponsored successful legislation that creates a housing "dashboard" to monitor the City's progress in meeting its housing development goals for diverse income levels.  Last year I commissioned an audit by the Budget and Legislative Analyst of the City's affordable housing policies and programs, whose recommendations included increased reporting by the Director of Planning on the development of market rate and affordable housing.  As the report suggested, the housing dashboard legislation will provide the Planning Department and the Planning Commission with a real time tool to make decisions about individual residential projects and help San Francisco better plan for our varied housing needs.

 

The Last Closet: Supporting LGBT Athletes to Come Out!

 

In the wake of the Giants' World Series Sweep, my colleague Supervisor Olague and I held a press conference to support the efforts of The Last Closet, a campaign to end homophobia in professional sports. We were also proud to introduce legislation calling on professional sports commissioners and management to support and encourage athletes in coming out of the closet.

 

 CleanPowerSF Moves Forward With Support of a Super Majority of the Board Of Supervisors

As Chair of the San Francisco Local Agency Commission I have been working closely the last few years with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to give people a choice of where they get their electricity generation. Currently, you have no choice and get PG&E's energy which is dominated by Fossil Fuel and Nuclear generation. The City is creating a program called CleanPowerSF that comes from 100% renewable sources, such as Solar and Wind. Under this program you will be given a choice between the 100% renewable program or you will be able to stay with PG&E. Should you choose to stay with CleanPowerSF there will be an increase in your generation costs but CleanPowerSF will also be offering programs to help people smartly reduce the amount of energy they use in order to help you reduce your overall bill. In September the Board of Supervisors in an 8-3 vote approved to move the program forward. The SFPUC is now in the process of setting up rates and getting ready to do a robust education plan on the program. I will keep you informed as more information becomes available.

One Step Closer to LGBT Shelter Opening

Since 2010 I have been working alongside a coalition of community activists, service providers and City officials to open the City's very first LGBT focused homeless shelter in the Mission. This week, we were excited to hear that, with the help of H.O.P.E. Director Bevan Dufty, the project has received a $30,000 community challenge grant from the Haas Jr. Foundation. We will be using this contribution to kick off a community fundraising campaign to secure the $100,000 that is needed for building restoration before the shelter can open its doors. To learn more about this important project, or to make a donation, click here.


Addressing Violence in the Mission

 

The recent surge in violence in the Mission has had a devastating effect on all of us in the community and nothing has been more difficult in my time as Supervisor than meeting with the parents of a young person who has just been killed. In an effort to end this rash of violence, police officers from all over the City have been deployed in the Mission and we have increased our coordination with the Gang Task Force.

 

Additionally, I was able to secure $30,000 in emergency funding for the Community Response Network (CRN) so that violence prevention workers can expand their work in the community and I will continue to fight for more funding for this effective program. The CRN has increased its outreach and street presence significantly and is extending its presence later into the evening hours and on weekends.