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Budget committee forwards $3.5 million APEC reallocation for SoMa relief and Lunar New Year transit support
Summary
The Budget and Finance Committee voted Feb. 14 to send to the full Board an ordinance reallocating $3.5 million for SoMa business relief, transit fares and parking/ambassador services for Lunar New Year, after public praise for OEWD outreach and discussion of targeting Taraval businesses.
The Budget and Finance Committee on Feb. 14 voted to forward an ordinance to the full Board that would reallocate $3.5 million to support businesses and transit needs related to APEC impacts and Lunar New Year events.
Chair Supervisor Connie Chan called the measure and the clerk summarized that the ordinance would de‑appropriate $3,500,000 from general city reserves and reappropriate $500,000 to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency for two‑hour parking in the Portsmouth Square garages, ambassador services and transit fares for the Lunar New Year parade, and $3,000,000 to the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to create a SoMa relief fund and a small business transit impact relief fund for fiscal year 2023–24.
Supervisor Matt Dorsey praised pre‑ and post‑APEC outreach, saying the city’s coordination between OEWD and the Office of Small Business has “really strengthened” relationships with businesses and residents. Supervisor Malgar urged dedicating $1 million of leftover APEC funds to help Taraval merchants who testified last week about construction‑related losses as high as 70 percent.
Public commenters praised the city’s outreach. Scott Rowlett, executive director of the Yerba Buena Community Benefit District, thanked supervisors and OEWD staff for assistance; a representative of Cultivate Labs urged that administrators keep regranting administrative fees low so funds reach as many small businesses and cultural organizations as possible.
After public comment, Chair Chan moved the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation; a roll call recorded three aye votes and the committee passed the motion.
The committee record shows the item will be placed on the Board of Supervisors agenda for Feb. 27. The measure’s next step is consideration by the full Board, where supervisors asked staff to provide additional details about distribution timing and equity before that hearing.
