Board approves $641.7 million in bond appropriations as supervisors condemn Parks Alliance letter to colleague

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on June 8 unanimously approved appropriations from three 2021 general obligation bond series to pay for street, parks, housing and emergency projects, votes that followed an extended debate about a private letter from the Parks Alliance that several supervisors described as a threat to an elected official.

The ordinance (item 7) passed with 11 ayes. It appropriates $122,700,000 from Series 2021C transportation and road improvement GO bonds to the Municipal Transportation Agency for street and transit projects; $428,000,000 from Series 2021D health and recovery GO bonds to the Recreation and Park Department, Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, Department of Public Health and Department of Public Works for parks, recreation facilities and permanent supportive housing; and $90,000,000 from Series 2021E earthquake safety and emergency response GO bonds to Public Works for fire facilities and emergency firefighting water system improvements.

Why it matters: The bond funds will finance a broad set of capital projects across San Francisco, including planned renovations for Portsmouth Square and a pool of money for Golden Gate Park improvements, while supervisors and members of the public pressed department leaders about private philanthropy and department oversight.

Supervisors criticized a letter sent by the Parks Alliance to Supervisor Connie Chan that said the nonprofit would "suspend our work" supporting the Richmond Playground if the supervisor did not confirm support. Several members said the language amounted to a threat to an elected official and demanded accountability from both the Parks Alliance and the Recreation and Parks Department.

"Please confirm in writing whether or not you would like us to continue supporting the Richmond playground. If we do not hear from you, we will assume that we no longer have your support and will suspend our work until your concerns have been fully addressed," President Walton read aloud from the Parks Alliance message during the hearing, calling it "100% a threat made by a nonprofit to an elected member of this board of supervisors."

Supervisor Connie Chan pressed Recreation and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsberg on whether he had prior knowledge of the Parks Alliance letter. Ginsberg told the board he was aware that Parks Alliance board and staff were upset about allegations made in public discussion but said he did not know the letter had been sent to Supervisor Chan in advance.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin and other colleagues sharply criticized Parks Alliance executive conduct and said department leadership should take responsibility for restoring trust. Peskin urged the Parks Alliance executive director to step down, saying the group had behaved inappropriately toward an elected official.

Ginsberg and Recreation and Park leaders told the board they would work to address communication breakdowns with supervisors and community groups. During discussion the general manager also confirmed Portsmouth Square had been identified earlier as a high-needs park slated for renovation with the bond funds and said Golden Gate Park projects remain a pool of funding to be allocated after additional planning.

What the board decided: After the public discussion and multiple supervisors’ remarks, the board approved the ordinance allocating bond proceeds to the named departments and projects. The vote on item 7 was recorded as unanimous (11 ayes).

What’s next: Departments that receive bond proceeds will proceed with project planning, design and later allocations according to the approved appropriations. Supervisors said they expect clearer communications between department leaders and community partners in the months ahead and asked for follow-up from Recreation & Parks on outreach and philanthropic coordination.

Speakers in the record included Recreation & Parks General Manager Phil Ginsberg and several supervisors who led the questioning, notably Supervisor Connie Chan and Supervisor Aaron Peskin, and President Walton, who read the Parks Alliance excerpt into the record.

Ending note: Supervisors praised volunteer and philanthropic support for parks while underscoring that private fundraising must not be used to pressure or silence elected officials. The board’s unanimous vote moved the bond appropriations forward for project implementation.