All City Codes: http://library.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templatesu0026amp;fn=default.htmu0026amp;vid=amlegal:sanfrancisco_ca
SF Legistar: https://sfgov.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=7374u0026amp;GUID=978C35A3-7173-49E6-8FAA-8EA34A7D4160u0026amp;Mode=MainBody
Transcript:
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that they are capable of understanding how their government works and to introduce my audience to tracking the actions of SF’s legislative body.
Central Idea: Democratic government demands that we citizens strive to be engaged and ready to take the mantle of leadership; today is the beginning of achieving that standard, and it begins with a basic introduction to the basic functions of the legislative body.
Welcome to another edition of adult show and tell – Just kidding it’s another open mic- if you are here for the first time, this is an ongoing series of presentations that we’ll challenge each other to give in order to have an excuse to get together and play poker, and as we go out into the world, a forum for us to share the things we learn about the world with each other. We also believe the act of speaking and teaching is instrumental to some aspect of personal development.
Today I will make a case for democracy, and then implore you to consider a more active role in it before giving a basic intro to the process by which our city collectively decides how to write the laws that will govern more than 800,000 people, determines the structure in which the city spends and collects almost $12 billion dollars, and administers literally everything you see around you. It is also a large part of the process of defining our collective futures – the decisions being made today define the world our children will inherit and I say that without hyperbole. I’ve been working in a supervisor’s office for the last two months, learning something new everyday, and on a mission to make enough sense of the governance of this city in order to at least gain some perspective if not to start getting ideas of how to improve it and hopefully make it more accessible to everyone.
I’ll start by showing an example of an ordinance, which is a local government’s equivalent to a law that carries civil or criminal penalties. You may have heard that the city will most likely ban the sale of e-cigarettes and vape devices. I say most likely because it still has to be signed by the Mayor, and then it will become effective 7 months after the Mayor signs it. An ordinance looks like this. Ordinances change the “city code” which is simply the laws on the books. This is the website where you can look at every single law.
Go into the use of the website. – Each of these laws correspond to an ordinance.
I want everyone to look at a more simple piece of legislation, which was passed at the same time as the e-cig ban. It is a ban of e-cigs on city property and it is relatively simple. Go over the parts of it. The legislative branch of san francisco is comprised of the board of supervisors. On the computers supervisors’ offices, there are templates of blank ordinances, and legislative aides simply fill them in.
To me this is a profound point – all ordinances and laws begin as blank pages. Or, even before that, they begin as simple ideas in a person’s mind – a person like you and me. Literally all they have to do is write it down on a word document and convince at least six other people to approve of it. For instance, we are beginning the process of writing a mandatory local hire ordinance, requiring all employers in the city to have at least 25% of its workers be residents of san francisco. To my understanding this may be a first in the nation. All this, and any crazy ideas you may have – even at the national level – ultimately begins and ends in on this piece of paper.
This fact – that 11 supervisors (and the mayor and other department heads) simply have to write words on paper for it to regulate and affect the lives of 800,000 people might scare you but it should also illuminate how accessible politics is. If you have the supervisor’s ear, you can hold an incredible amount of sway over the governance of the entire political entity whether it’s the city or the country. And these supervisors are regular people like you and me. This is the level of government that is the most receptive to you and your family and friends. I would argue that you and your supervisor, or at least their office staff should know who each other are. You should have a hand in electing or opposing your supervisor, and you should gauge what’s in their minds and hearts because of the amount of power and decision making they do to shape the future of our communities.
So today, I urge you to reflect on the fact that regular people like you and me are elected into office by us, and then they begin to decide what they want to put in the city code. They write it and it governs us all. Sure, there is a large amount of trust given, whether you’re aware of it or not, for such a tiny percentage of individuals to lead the whole city. But whether it’s through a healthy skeptical mistrust of the fact that such great decision making is concentrated in a miniscule amount of people, or whether it’s because we are convinced about our role as citizens in a democracy, it seems to me like we have a duty to engage and affect those decisions being made.
That begins with a basic introduction to what’s going on in the legislator’s offices. Use of registrar website. Take notes because there is an exercise that will require you to navigate the site.
A little treasure hunt – and what is the latest
what neighborhoods does that supervisor represent?
what was the most recently introduced ordinance of which the supervisor was a primary sponsor? Summarize the legislation in a couple sentences. What does it tell you about his/her priorities? A Aaron peskin 190731 – change from 18 mos to 3 years to deem as discontinued in the north beach commercial district – a longer period for a bldg permitted conditional use to be deemed discontinued – which would seem to make it easier for people to find renters and businesses for their storefronts and commercial spaces – there is currently a large amount of empty storefronts in north beach Ahsha Safai 190711 – if the DPW removes a tree, it must replace the tree at the same location within 120 days of removal – dude cares about trees in the ‘hood Catherine stefani 190497- renaming of Mental Health Board; define “consumer”
She cares about mental health
Gordon Mar https://sfgov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3997731u0026amp;GUID=8EFF85D5-B300-4E53-B9E8-56ADC3276E92u0026amp;Options=u0026amp;Search= 190730 – modify CCSF Financial Assistance fund and the oversight committee in charge of this fund – Gordon Mar cares about higher education and how the funds are being managed Hilary Ronen https://sfgov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3955848u0026amp;GUID=A1DC0E19-4474-466A-8725-5699D8D15FBAu0026amp;Options=u0026amp;Search= 190573 – create a fund to help acquire housing for individuals with mental illness/substance abuse disorders – she cares about individuals with mental illnesses Matt Haney 190682 – development agreement between the City and Flower Mart
190681 – planning code amendment related to Flower Mart development
He supports businesses
Norman Yee (president) 190684 – create fund to lower rent for low-income senior citizens
He cares about old people
Rafael Mandelman 190709 – approved Health Service System plans and Contribution rates for 2020 – related to CCSF, SFUSD, CCD, Superior Courts employees
He takes care of govt employees
Sandra Lee Fewer 190547 – create an Office of Racial Equity create, assess, and assist in racial equity employment
She cares about racial equality
Shamann Walton 190392 – close down Juvenile Hall and look for other alternatives
He cares about taking care of troubled children
Vallie Brown (appointed) 190680 – Fire and Police Retirement benefits associated to heart diseases
She cares about the health of workers
So we’re now a little more caught up with what’s happening in our city, and we’re beginning to make sense of it and know where to find things. Secondly, as we learn more about the world we live in, I hope that we begin to ask why things are the way things are, and i bet some opinions are already forming about some of these actions these people are taking.
today’s message, and I’m sort of testing how well it’ll be received – is ultimately that, as we begin to engage and dig in to how the city is run, that when it comes down to it, you are capable of first tracking the direction our city is taking, second, form opinions and have a forum to discuss these opinions, and third, play an active role in the administration of the whole city.
You ought to understand and truly believe in your capability to understand and exercise your voice in what is truly meant to be a collaborative process. And yes, trust me I know it’s not the most accessible or inviting process, and I’m dedicating my life to increase accessibility – but I want everyone to imagine themselves as supervisors, having to consider all these bills that have great consequences, and even thinking about what sorts of things you’ll write on a blank ordinance paper.
In my view, as we live, work, read, watch, and talk, we embark on a journey to develop and exercise those functions and faculties that we are to use when we take command. I want to avoid preaching or telling you what to do, instead, I want to say that you are extremely bright people with more than enough intellectual capability and moral sensitivities that are required to engage with the difficult questions and responsibilities and keeping track of the challenges our society faces as well as the directions our society can go. I think you’ll also find that the world is a little more interesting when you know you can affect it – it’s the difference between watching from the sidelines or the nosebleed seats and getting in the game.
My faith in this process is based on the notion that each of us, especially considering our youth and potential, and every person in general, are born with the great gift of thought and moral intuition, which all share an inherent value. Democracy is the only system thus far that respects this truth and acts on it. We don’t have a direct democracy yet, but I am something of an idealist and I will work to expand the ratio or proportion of constituent to representative, and bring us closer to the ideals of democracy.
I’ll close with some wisdom from Aristotle. In Book 3 of his treatise titled Politics, I found that he defined citizenship as holding “indefinite office.” Let’s say that today is our inauguration into office – and we are now focused on executing the duties that come with it.
I may not have to convince any of you on the merits of democracy, especially because we will probably continue to live in one for the remainder of our lives, but here is a final quote:
The principle that the multitude ought to be supreme rather than the few best is one that is maintained, and, though not free from difficulty, yet seems to contain an element of truth. For the many, of whom each individual is but an ordinary person, when they meet together may very likely be better than the few good, if regarded not individually but collectively, just as a feast to which many contribute is better than a dinner provided out of a single purse.
Thank you, I hope you believe in me, because I believe in you to make this world a better place.
MEOW – Group 1
- Rafael Mandelman. (8) Castro, Noe Valley, Diamond Heights, Glen Parks, Corona Heights, Eureka Valley, Dolores Height, Mission Dolores, Duboce Triangle, Buena VIsta Park, part of Twin Peaks
190709: approving health care systems plans u0026amp; rates for 2020 – care about peeps having affordable health care.
190573: amending admin code to establish Co-Op Living Opportunities to fund acquisition of residential property for people with chronic mental illness/substance use disorder; requiring departments to establish policies and procedures to issue loans and the placement of eligible clients – care about those with mental health issues as well as drug abusers and would like to provide housing for them.
3. Shamann Walton (10) Potrero Hill, Central Waterfront, Dogpatch, Bayview-Hunters Point, Bayview Heights, India Basin, Silver Terrace, Candlestick Point, Visitacion Valley, Little Hollywood, Sunnydale, and McLaren Park
190312: prohibit tobacco establishments from the sale of electronic cigs if they don’t have FDA approval of their marketing – cares about young people having easy access to e-cigs; being influenced by e-cig marketing
4. Ahsha Safaí. (11) Excelsior, Ingleside, Oceanview, Merced Heights, Ingleside Heights, Mission Terrace, Outer Mission, Cayuga, and Crocker Amazon
190494: incur bonded debt ($628,500,000) to city and county to finance seismic retrofitting and general improvements of police and fire fighting facilities – public safety concerns
Group 2
copy table from google doc
Group 3
table from google doc