Newly elected supervisors sworn in; members outline priorities including jobs, housing and fiscal challenges

Newly elected and reelected members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors were sworn in during the boards inaugural meeting in January 2011, and several members used the occasion to outline priorities including jobs, neighborhood services and an urgent budget shortfall.

Before the oath, the clerk reported receipt of certificates from the Department of Elections and a confirmation from the controllers office that newly and continuing board members had been bonded as of Jan. 4, 2011 as required by the San Francisco Administrative Code. The assistant presiding judge of the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco, the Hon. Cynthia Lee, administered the oath of office to the supervisors.

After the swearing-in, newly seated supervisors gave brief inaugural remarks. Mark Farrell (District 2) described his neighborhood roots and pledged to work for vibrant neighborhoods and partnerships between labor and business. Jane Kim (District 6) said her background in community organizing would guide her emphasis on jobs, cleaner and safer streets and schools, and described her intention to support organizing and community-building. Scott Wiener (District 8) highlighted transportation, pension and job-creation priorities and pledged to find common ground with colleagues. Malia Cohen (District 10) said she would focus on keeping San Francisco natives in the city and on coalition-building. Carmen Chu (District 4) thanked staff and volunteers and said she looked forward to serving her district.

Other returning and newly seated supervisors likewise framed broad, citywide challenges. Several speakers warned of a large near-term budget gap. In remarks to the board, Supervisor David Chu said the city faced a projected budget deficit of almost $400 million and urged the body to "move beyond" oppositional politics to work with the incoming interim mayor and each other to find solutions. In earlier public comments and speeches, speakers referenced recent budget figures and characterized the coming term as one that would require consensus-building across neighborhoods and constituencies.

Members also noted specific policy priorities voiced from the dais and during public comment: local hiring and jobs for Southeast neighborhoods, public-safety and anti-eviction measures, green jobs and cleanup of the shipyard, and tenant-rights protections. Several public commenters who addressed members at the podium urged continued support for tenant protections and local-hire initiatives.

The meeting closed after the swearing-in and initial remarks; the board then moved to election of the board president and other inaugural business.