Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Fiscal topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves $100,000 appropriation for earthquake relief in Italy after divided debate on city role
Summary
The Board approved a $100,000 allocation from the General Reserve to help earthquake victims in Italy; supporters called it a symbolic act of reciprocity, opponents said the city should not use local funds for foreign disasters.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to appropriate $100,000 from the General Reserve to the Department of Emergency Management to provide relief to earthquake victims in Italy, after several supervisors debated whether city funds should be used for overseas disasters.
Supervisor Farrell opposed the appropriation, saying San Francisco should not be "in the business of providing financial assistance for every tragedy around the world" and stressing city budget priorities for local needs. "Whether it's a hundred thousand dollars or a hundred million dollars, the point is still the same," he said, adding he supported private philanthropic giving rather than a city appropriation.
Supervisor Peskin and Supervisor Campos defended the measure as part of a historical tradition of reciprocal international aid, noting San Francisco received assistance after past earthquakes. Peskin observed that in earlier eras the city both gave and received assistance and said given San Francisco's $9.6 billion budget the appropriation was modest. Campos said the gesture recognized the city’s global connections and said it was appropriate as a symbolic act.
Supervisor Cohen asked whether the city had a policy or criteria guiding when the board makes such appropriations and whether the practice had precedent beyond earthquakes. Several supervisors, including Supervisor Avalos, recounted previous appropriations the city had made in response to hurricanes, tsunamis and other disasters and said the city has a history of responding to natural disasters with limited appropriations.
The roll call vote was 7 ayes and 4 noes with Supervisors Cohen, Farrell, Tang and Breed recorded in the dissent. The ordinance (first-reading appropriation) was passed on first reading.
The measure authorizes the Department of Emergency Management to spend the designated funds for relief for the fiscal year 2016–17. Supervisors urged the mayor's office and the department to ensure funds reach established, on-the-ground organizations.
