Farrell budget priorities: Clean streets, homelessness, public safety

San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell on Thursday unveiled his $11 billion budget for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 fiscal years which addresses cleaner streets, homelessness and public safety.

During the last three months, Farrell has revealed piece-by-piece elements of his two-year proposed budget, such as $13 million for hiring 44 street cleaners and purchasing new equipment, $6 million to hire 10 clinicians to distribute medication to help people on the streets suffering from heroin addiction, and on Wednesday, announcing $8 million to hire and train 90 911 dispatchers.

Farrell said while The City’s economy continues to thrive, San Francisco residents still face many tough challenges:

“We all understand that a mother should have not have to choose between pay a utility bill or paying rent. The potential of facing eviction and homelessness. We know that clean streets free of syringes and needles should be the norm, not the exception. Parking your car should not induce a panic attack because you think it will be broken into.”

Farrell added:

“We all understand that residents and historically underserved communities deserve the resources and services they need to succeed in the booming economy. They deserve it from San Francisco.”

The budget will double its efforts with $1.2 million to support the Homeward Bound program, an initiative that reunites homeless individuals with family members.

Homeless navigation centers will continue to get funding in Farrell’s proposed budget. His budget calls for the opening and operation of four new navigation centers at an annual cost of $15.2 million.

Farrell’s budget also focuses on a plan to hire 250 new police officers over the next four years and $7.5 million for new police vehicles and $3 million for the department to buy tasers.

His budget will also support immigrants facing deportation by providing them with legal representation over the next two years at the cost of $7.6 million.

The mayor’s budget now heads to the Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee, which Supervisor Malia Cohen chairs.

By the time the full Board of Supervisors approves the budget, a new mayor should be in place to sign off on the budget.

The City Charter mandates that a budget must be passed by the board by Aug. 1.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.