San Francisco Public Press (https://www.sfpublicpress.org/series/city-budget-watchdog/)
Hank Drew, Reporter/PhotographerDistrict 6 Supervisor Chris Daly sat down with the Public Press to discuss the budget crisis, his legislative priorities, Mayor Gavin Newsom’s political agenda and the circumstances surrounding this year’s budget.
Lizzy Tomei, ReporterDistrict 9 Supervisor David Campos spoke about his approach to tackling the multimillion-dollar budget deficit. A former police commissioner, Campos is currently chair of the Board of Supervisors’ public safety committee and a member of the budget and finance committee.
Hank Drew, Reporter/PhotographerDistrict 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi recently spoke with The Public Press about government waste and the need for budget process reform.
While “delighted” that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors was able to “extract” $45 million from Mayor Gavin Newsom’s budget, Mirkarimi said he was still unhappy with the budget process as a whole. He said he would like to see the budget changed to a two-year cycle from the current one-year cycle or at least have the budget submitted before June 1.
Hank Drew, Reporter/Photographer‘We wanted to make sure there was equity in how the budget was approved.’
Supervisor John Avalos, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, addresses coalition building, community organizing, his fight to save key social services, his closed-door agreement with Mayor Gavin Newsom and his frustrations with the budget process.
Kevin Stark, ReporterSophie Maxwell praises the health department for efficiency and calls the budget policy debate “healthy.”
“The police, that’s the end. Public safety starts in the middle. Public safety starts with education. Public safety starts with health … by the time they get to the police we have failed them.”
Kevin Stark, ReporterAmid intense lobbying to restore social-service funding to this year’s budget, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors earmarked $1 million for specific organizations, flouting the city charter.
Christopher D. Cook, Project editor, City Budget WatchdogThe Public Press and KALW (91.7 FM) teamed up for a budget roundtable that aired Aug. 17 on the “Crosscurrents” news program. A panel of local experts offered a lively and informative on-the-air discussion about San Francisco’s budget crisis and its impacts on residents and communities.
Although San Francisco’s city budget was passed in July, District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar says he believes taking a more fundamental process to passing it is in order.
He advocates having “a people’s budget,” in which the process would solicit more grassroots involvement at “the early levels as opposed to where you have people rallying and begging at the last minute … when they can’t have as much of an impact on the budget.”
Christopher D. Cook, Project editor, City Budget WatchdogAlready reeling from a deep recession and massive cuts to staff and services in this year’s budget, San Francisco is being hammered by a new tidal wave of state cuts — estimated at $26.5 million — which could put low-income seniors and others on the brink of homelessness and hunger, many advocates say.
Kevin Stark, ReporterAs the city shrinks its payroll, sending layoff notices to certified nursing assistants and clerical staff, it is touching off accusations from organized labor that officials are discriminating against women and minority workers.
Bethany Fleishman, Reporter and 
Michael PistorioSan Francisco Supervisor John Avalos is crafting a proposal that would place a fee on alcohol sold in the city, potentially raising $25 million to $35 million annually to help pay for alcohol-related public health and criminal justice costs.
Lila LaHood, PublisherWe did it! Thanks to your help, The Public Press and Spot.Us raised $5,000 to support our City Budget Watchdog series. Over the course of three months, our team produced 18 articles and 13 videos, accompanied by numerous photos and information graphics, and co-produced with KALW (91.7 FM) a budget roundtable that aired Aug. 17 on the "Crosscurrents" news program. Our reporters uncovered so many stories that we’ll continue to publish new reports and videos as they are completed in coming weeks.
Kevin Stark, ReporterSan Francisco city leaders have found an extra pot of $8 million they hope to use as a patch on the summer’s tattered budget, potentially rescuing more than 500 frontline workers already given pink slips or downgraded to lower-paying jobs.
