Supervisors debate supplemental for Legacy Business Registry; ASO amendment approved, appropriation continued

The committee considered two items to implement Proposition J—s Legacy Business Registry: an annual salary ordinance amendment to add one senior community‑development specialist in the Office of Small Business (item 4), and a proposed supplemental appropriation of roughly $343,000 from the general reserve for grants and administration (item 5).

Regina Dickendrizi of the Office of Small Business (OEWD) said the office is implementing the registry and had posted materials online about two weeks earlier; she said staff are triaging nominations that come through supervisors— offices and that the registry will require technical assistance, grant criteria, and an application process. A controller—s office analysis (Rose) recommended reducing the requested supplemental for salary/fringe to reflect realistic hiring timing and urged that long‑term grant obligations be considered before committing reserve funds.

Supervisor discussion focused on process: several supervisors (including Supervisors Weiner and Tang) said they support funding the program but prefer the mayor include grants in his budget rather than approving a supplemental in April. Supervisor Campos and community advocates urged immediate funding to help businesses negotiating leases. One motion to appropriate the funds and place them on Budget Committee reserve failed on roll call (2 ayes, 3 noes). A subsequent motion to continue item 5 to the call of the chair passed on a 3–2 roll call. The ASO amendment creating the permanent position (item 4) moved forward with the committee—s recommendation.