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Public commenters urge protection for social services and criticize redevelopment amid budget talk
Summary
During public comment at the Budget & Finance Committee hearing, advocates warned that state cuts to Medi-Cal, IHSS and childcare would strain local services and urged supervisors to protect vulnerable residents; one speaker criticized redevelopment—s historical impact on the Fillmore district.
Several members of the public used the committee—s public-comment period on March 1 to urge action to preserve social services and to criticize redevelopment practices.
Thomas Picariello of the Tenderloin asked the administration to clarify the assumptions behind the mayor—s deficit projection and whether the projection assumes ballot measures pass. "I would like to know what assumptions he made regarding the June ballot initiatives," Picariello said, asking for greater transparency in the projection.
Deborah Benedict, a District 6 voter and chapter organizer for Californians for Disability Rights Inc., warned that proposed cuts to in-home supportive services and other state changes could push more people into nursing homes and increase pressures on Laguna Honda hospital. She urged the city to pursue revenue and efficiency options to avoid harm to vulnerable residents.
Maria Illustore, organizer with OASIS, highlighted potential deep cuts to early-care and childcare reimbursement rates, saying Senate and Assembly proposals could reduce provider reimbursement by up to 17% or 10% respectively and that further advocacy will be needed to protect those programs.
Ace Warren, speaking from the Western Addition/Fillmore community, criticized redevelopment—s history of displacement and urged city officials to examine redevelopment—s local impacts, saying redevelopment had caused economic and social harms in his neighborhood.
Committee members acknowledged the comments and said officials will continue to examine the local impacts of state budget decisions and will schedule department briefings to clarify the concrete programmatic effects of proposed reductions. No formal action on these public requests was taken at the March 1 hearing.
