San Francisco Sun

San Francisco, CA – Mayor London N. Breed’s bond proposal for the November ballot to support a healthy, vibrant San Francisco was approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors today. The bond will fund key health and shelter infrastructure, street safety and road repaving, and public space and park improvements across San Francisco.

Following the Mayor’s introduction of the Healthy, Safe and Vibrant San Francisco bond in April, the proposal was voted on by the City’s Capital Planning Committee before heading to the Board of Supervisors, where eight votes were needed for approval. The Bond measure will now move forward to be included on the November ballot, where it will need two-thirds approval by voters.

“This bond will invest in our critical infrastructure and advance projects that create jobs and prioritize important civic needs,” said Mayor London Breed. “It will create safer streets and smoother roads, deliver welcoming and vibrant plazas and public spaces, support families, and strengthen our public health institutions that serve all of our residents. I want to thank the Board of Supervisors for moving this forward so voters can help decide how we build a stronger, safer and thriving San Francisco.”

If approved by voters, the $390 million bond funding will invest in critical needs across four main areas:

Strengthening public health infrastructure projects like Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Laguna Honda Hospital, and Chinatown Health Clinic

The bond will invest $205 million in ensuring safe, resilient, and accessible public health infrastructure. This includes renovating and expanding the Chinatown Health Clinic, which has more than 10,000 patient visits annually being served in a culturally competent manner, 80% of whom speak Cantonese, Mandarin or Toishanese as a primary language. It will include retrofitting and making critical repairs to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) and Laguna Honda Hospital (LHH), the City’s two largest public health institutions. This would add 65,000 square feet of seismically safe space at ZSFG, increase capacity at Psychiatric Emergency Services, and help ensure recertification at LHH.

Investing in shelter and housing for homeless families

The bond will invest $50 million in ending family homelessness. San Francisco currently provides over 330 units in family shelter and transitional housing and over 2,300 units of family housing in the Homelessness Response System. The bond will dedicate funding to address the increasing need for family housing and shelter including potential site acquisition or renovation.

Delivering street safety improvements and road repaving citywide

The bond will invest $63.9 million in our street infrastructure by delivering street safety projects and road repaving. It will dedicate funding to improve street design for safe streets including safer crosswalks sidewalks road safety traffic safety road design improvements intersection improvements at Sloat Blvd improving traffic circulation after Great Highway Extension closure ensuring safer access to San Francisco Zoo.

Supporting public space park improvements projects like Powell Street Harvey Milk Hallidie Plazas more

The bond will invest $71 million in making improvements to San Francisco’s civic spaces that are enjoyed by all providing welcoming gathering spaces for public investing $25 million renovation spaces such as Harvey Milk Plaza $41 million Downtown public spaces including areas like Powell Street Hallidie plaza improving area repairing elevator.

Support for Mayor’s Proposed Bond

“Our mission is to fund support patient care innovation at ZSFG because we believe in health equity care for all,” said Kim Meredith CEO San Francisco General Hospital Foundation “This bond supports commitment values providing seismic upgrades critical repairs much needed renovations deliver quality care ZSFG all San Franciscans We incredibly fortunate city believes public health made ZSFG national model.”

“Self Help Elderly close partner Chinatown Public Health Center since Lady Shaw Senior Center opened 1990 fully supports need rebuild Chinatown Public Health Center,” said Anni Chung President CEO Self Help Elderly “important rebuild center continue providing culturally linguistically competent medical health services monolingual seniors immigrant families AAPI community.”

“Chinatown Public Health Center provided crucial medical public health services local Chinese American AAPI communities decades,” said Sarah Wan Executive Director Community Youth Center San Francisco “community needs state-of-the-art medical center fully meet growing needs provide healthcare services next generation youth families growing AAPI senior population San Francisco.”

“My mother simply crossing street hit speeding driver dangerous intersection 2011,” said Jenny Yu Founding Member SF Bay Area Families Safe Streets “suffers severe brain injuries required 24-hour care since crash City desperately needs resources fix dangerous streets we’re all safe crossing street – this bond with $70 million Vision Zero projects crucial."

“Creating safe joyful streets help revitalize neighborhoods make City more welcoming kids families,” said Robin Pam Parent Organizer Kid Safe “I want thank Mayor leadership critical issue."

“As worldwide ambassador San Francisco values Harvey ideal person celebrated city," said Cleve Jones LGBT Human Rights Activist founder NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt "This bond measure make possible Memorial Harvey Milk Plaza beacon others world existence give hope people who need it my hope inspires others world become hero own communities because world needs lot more people like friend Harvey Milk."

“We thrilled support Healthy Safe Vibrant San Francisco Bond” said Brian Springfield Executive Director Friends Harvey Milk Plaza "This bond represents transformative investment city's public spaces ensuring remain welcoming accessible all renovation Harvey Milk Plaza honor legacy iconic civil rights leader while providing safe vibrant gathering place community revitalizing civic spaces preserving history building inclusive resilient future San Francisco."

"As small business owner Powell Street depends walk-in traffic potential investments public realm downtown very heartening," said Lauren Ellis owner CK Contemporary Gallery "look forward beautification pedestrian safety general upswing environment downtown!"

"Powell Street stands crown jewel Union Square vibrant entryway San Francisco countless travelers," said Marisa Rodriguez CEO Union Square Alliance "With roads converging iconic cable car traversing path embodies essence city's allure Through strategic investments envision rejuvenated district beckoning visitors locals engage commerce exploration community once more."

"As third-generation hotel owner operator Union Square family always felt visitor experience starts Powell Street," said Jon Handlery President CEO Handlery Hotel "Investing recapture beauty uniqueness gateway entrance heart downtown pay dividends City years."

“For over 30 years managed leased Union Square Building corner Powell Geary” said Stephen Brett Manager Brett Company "never been more critical revitalize Powell Street gateway Union Square City forming first impression millions visitors have Whatever we invest now improve attractiveness appeal pay us back many times over Rejuvenating vital corridor help return San Francisco status world class city premier travel destination."