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Budget committee approves sublease and $500,000 reserve release for proposed Community Justice Center
Summary
The Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee voted to send a 9,000 sq. ft. sublease at 555 Polk Street forward as a committee report and approved releasing $500,000 in reserve funds for the proposed Community Justice Center, despite public comment opposing the project as duplicative.
The Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee on Tuesday voted to send a resolution authorizing a sublease of 9,000 square feet at 555 Polk Street for the proposed Community Justice Center forward as a committee report and approved the release of $500,000 in reserve funds from the mayor's office criminal justice FY 07/2008 budget for the project.
Committee Chair Supervisor McGoldrick said he previously opposed funding the center on fiscal grounds because of other cuts but that the proposal "has some promise" and emphasized the need for a formal evaluation over the next year to determine "the degree to which this is indeed rehabilitative and restorative as opposed to punitive." He said the evaluation should be set up by the grantor and run over the coming year.
During public comment, Thomas Picariello, a resident of the Tenderloin, urged the committee to oppose the center, calling it "duplicative" and saying it amounted to "3 and a half million dollars" for a plan he said had not been fully worked out. His remarks were not followed by a staff response on the record.
On Item 1, an unidentified member moved to send the sublease resolution as a committee report; Supervisor Chiu seconded. The clerk called the roll; the transcript records Vice Chair Sean Ellsburn voting "aye" and Supervisor Mercurimi voting "aye." The committee chair announced the motion passed and the item was sent out as a committee report.
On Item 2, a motion to release $500,000 in reserves for the Community Justice Center was moved and a roll call was taken. The clerk's roll call, as captured in the transcript, records Vice Chair Sean Ellsburn voting "aye," Supervisor Mercurimi voting "no," and Supervisor Daley voting "no." Supervisor McGoldrick is recorded voting "aye." The chair announced the motion passed; the transcript does not present a clear, consistent full tally in sequence, but records the motion as approved.
The sublease would place the proposed Community Justice Center in space managed through the Department of Public Health, and the $500,000 would come from the mayor's office criminal justice budget for FY 07/2008. Committee members repeatedly emphasized that a formal evaluation should accompany any rollout to determine whether the center produces restorative outcomes.
The committee recognized Supervisor Carmen Chu for her service; members thanked her as this was her last meeting on the panel. The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.
Votes at a glance: Item 1 (send sublease resolution as committee report) — passed (recorded votes include: Sean Ellsburn: aye; Supervisor Mercurimi: aye; others recorded as 'aye' where shown). Item 2 (release $500,000 in reserves to Community Justice Center) — passed (recorded votes include: Sean Ellsburn: aye; Supervisor McGoldrick: aye; Supervisor Mercurimi: no; Supervisor Daley: no). The transcript's roll-call sequence is inconsistent; the committee announced both motions passed.
