MESSAGE FROM CATHERINE

Dear John,

Budgets are statements of our values, but the Board of Supervisors’ proposal drained down the City’s reserves and failed to provide enough support to those who need it most: our small business community and our more than 200,000 newly unemployed neighbors. The proposal would spend a lot of taxpayer money and produce nowhere near the level of services that this moment demands.

That’s why I voted no. 

Earlier this year, Mayor London Breed offered a strong starting point with her proposal that closed a historically large budget deficit – without layoffs – and provided $5 million in small business relief. The budget as amended, however, was untenable. 

It depended on state and federal reimbursement for pandemic-related expenses, as well as revenue from a tax measure that has not yet been passed by the voters. COVID-19 will be with us for a long time. It will continue to increase our expenses and decrease our revenues, and there is no way to guarantee what reimbursement the City will receive over the next two years. 

Our reserves exist to stabilize government services and support our community during an economic catastrophe. But the Board of Supervisors’ budget did not provide the support our small businesses need as they face an extinction-level event, and our reserves are not infinite. 

For too long, City Hall has taken our local economy for granted and thrown fiscal responsibility to the wind. This year, we simply cannot afford to continue business as usual.

Warm regards,
Catherine

Office of Supervisor Catherine Stefani
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 260, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 554-7752 Fax: (415) 554-7843