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Board approves $529,000 for disability-access projects after sharp debate
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance to appropriate about $529,000 in certificates of participation proceeds for disability-access improvements and relocation costs in the Mayor's Office on Disability after a 10-1 vote that exposed divisions over spending priorities during tight budgets.
San Francisco ' The Board of Supervisors voted to appropriate approximately $529,000 of certificates of participation proceeds to fund disability access improvement projects and relocation costs in the Mayor's Office on Disability for fiscal year 2010'2011, after a contentious debate in which one supervisor voted no.
Supporters said the money would address long-standing accessibility shortcomings in City Hall and the mayor's disability office; opponents said the funds would be better spent fixing street-level accessibility problems across districts.
The ordinance passed on final reading by roll call, with 10 ayes and one no. Supervisor John Avalos cast the lone no vote.
Avalos said he had been "on the fence" but decided to vote no after visits to his district. "We don't have the luxury of making symbolic acts," he told colleagues, arguing the city should prioritize fixing ramps and other accessibility features in neighborhoods where people use them every day. He cited a stalled curb-ramp project at San Jose and Geneva and urged the city to direct limited funds to everyday street safety and preservation of public-health programs.
Supervisor Scott Wiener, who had considered voting with Avalos, said he ultimately supported the appropriation because of the symbolic and practical need to make the Board chambers and other seats of power accessible. "Given that this chambers is not accessible, that it should have been made accessible when we redid City Hall, and given the symbolism of having one of the seats of power in San Francisco not be accessible, I will be continuing to vote in favor of this allocation," Wiener said.
Supervisor David Campos emphasized deference to members of San Francisco's disabled community, saying many community members had urged the board to act.
The ordinance directs approximately $529,000 from certificates of participation proceeds for disability-access improvement projects and relocation costs in the Mayor's Office on Disability for FY 2010'2011. The measure does not specify project-by-project breakdown in the ordinance text presented to the board.
The appropriation was part of the consent calendar but was pulled for discussion and vote after supervisors requested separation of the matter for debate.
Looking ahead, the funding will be used by the Mayor's Office on Disability for improvements and relocation costs; the ordinance does not list specific project implementers or detailed timelines.
