Supervisors recommend $498,304 supplemental for Mission violence-prevention after broad community testimony

The Government Audit and Oversight Committee voted Oct. 6 to send a $498,304 supplemental appropriation to the full Board of Supervisors, intended to expand intensive case management, outreach and evening programming for high-risk youth in the Mission District.

Supervisor Chris Ammiano introduced the request, saying the Mission had seen “an alarming surge” of violence and homicides in recent weeks and that the supplemental is meant as a crisis response to expand services now. He said the funds would increase outreach workers, case managers and evening programs and link workforce-development efforts to violence-prevention services.

The nut graf: community providers, hospital staff and residents testified at length, urging immediate support for outreach teams and wraparound services and asking for measurable outcomes and stronger coordination between city departments and community-based organizations (CBOs). The Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF) described its contract-management and oversight processes and proposed a short planning session with city departments and CBOs to reallocate or better target existing resources alongside the supplemental.

Community testimony emphasized specific operational needs. David Delp, a Treat Avenue resident, described repeated shootings on his block and urged funding for nonviolent programs with “measurable results” and better cooperation with police. Gloria Romero of Mission Neighborhood Centers said the CRN made nearly 3,000 outreach contacts last year and asked for more safe-haven nights and longer hours. Claudia Hassin, executive director of Jamestown Community Center, urged funding for transportation — citing roughly $150 to fill a CRN van — and said limited vehicle capacity prevents outreach teams from reaching young people.

Speakers from several neighborhoods argued the problem is citywide and pressed the Board to consider larger reallocations where needed. Jacob Moody of the Bayview Hunters Point Foundation and John Nower (Visitation Valley) said available funds would serve only a handful of workers in each neighborhood and urged sustained investment. Hospital-based case managers described repeated trauma caseloads: Ricardo Garcia Acosta of San Francisco General Hospital said clinicians see violent injury “every single day” and urged support for mental-health and job-placement services.

DCYF representatives said the department has minimum standards for case management, monthly reporting and an active contract-management system. DCYF said it was preparing an RFP to evaluate violence-prevention programs and recommended a coordinated meeting with police, mental health, probation and rec-and-park to identify reallocation options and non‑capital solutions (for example, police filling stations for fuel to support outreach vans).

Supervisor Ammiano and others emphasized accountability: Ammiano said the Board must set clear performance benchmarks so money is spent on proven services rather than ad hoc efforts. Noni Calaretti, the mayor’s budget director, told the committee that community-based funding had increased in recent years and that DCYF’s budget for community response networks has grown.

The committee acted by voice vote (no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript) on a motion by Supervisor Ammiano, seconded by Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, to forward the item to the full Board with recommendation. The clerk set the full Board hearing date as October 21.

The next step is the Board of Supervisors’ consideration; the committee record shows broad public support for immediate funding, provider requests for operational details (transportation, safe-haven hours, living wages for outreach staff), and departmental commitments to oversight and interagency coordination.