Arts groups and food-security advocates press for mayoral increases in two-year budget

Representatives of the Arts Alliance, Theater Bay Area and a coalition of small arts groups told the Budget & Finance Committee on June 19 they support the mayor—s proposed $7.7 million allocation for arts over two years but urged the supervisors to target funds to small, neighborhood-based organizations and individual artists.

"This money will go to small and medium sized arts organizations and individual artists who find it increasingly and paradoxically difficult to do business in this city," said Patrick Hossfield of the Arts Alliance. Theater Bay Area and ABBA urged inclusion of service organizations and grant support that reaches community-based cultural providers.

Food-security advocates also addressed the committee. Becky Gershon of the SF-Marin Food Bank thanked the board for the mayor's additional $1.4 million for home-delivered meals and asked for an additional $3,477,000 to expand home-delivered meals, groceries and congregate meals and to fund a healthy-eating vouchers program administered by HSA. "We have set an ambitious goal to achieve food security by 2020," she said, and requested continued investment to meet that target.

Speakers tied arts and food programs to broader neighborhood stability and senior supports: food programs alleviate immediate hunger and help seniors age in place, while local arts organizations contribute to neighborhood cohesion and job opportunities for artists. As with other agenda items, the committee continued consideration of the mayor—s proposed budget to its next meeting.