Updates

***PRESS RELEASE***

San Francisco Budget and Legislative Analyst Urges City to Develop Plan for a Public Bank 

City report highlights need for public bank to open the door to rapid, sustainable, and equitable recovery during the COVID-19 crisis and to invest in long-standing needs such as affordable housing, small business, and green infrastructure

SAN FRANCISCO — A report released by the City of San Francisco’s Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA) Office on public banking recommends that the City immediately set up a Working Group to develop a business plan for a San Francisco public bank, which will address capitalization, funding, lending operations, and governance to be submitted to the Board. This report was first requested by District 1 Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, who has been a champion of public banking since entering office in 2017.

“The Budget and Legislative Analyst report demonstrates clear and compelling reasons for moving forward with a plan to create a public bank in San Francisco,” said Supervisor Fewer. “Such an institution could invest in the rebuilding of our local economy to benefit San Franciscans. A public bank for the public good? Absolutely.”

The medium-term impact of the current economic recession could be addressed with the creation of a public bank by investing in affordable housing, public infrastructure, and small businesses. As the Budget and Legislative Analyst office writes, “our present circumstances highlight ever more clearly the need for such an institution, which could provide the City and its residents with an additional set of powerful tools to promote economic regeneration, and to address long-standing problems such as the multi-decade crisis of affordable housing and the need for a large-scale publicly financed energy transition.”

The BLA report’s public banking model outlines the following:

• A San Francisco Public Bank would be profitable immediately due to the nature of the funding arrangements with the City, and public bank operating costs would be similar to industry standards.
• A San Francisco Public Bank would cultivate lending agreements to support a network of affiliated community institutions, including local and regional credit unions, banks, loan funds, and Community Development Financial Institutions.
• A San Francisco Public Bank will have “strong risk buffers,” considering the public bank’s capital-to-asset ratio will far exceed the level at which the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation defines a bank as “well capitalized.”
• The City’s investment pool can be tapped safely for establishing a public bank without impacting current spending and can be enlarged by utilizing its interest earnings.

“The COVID-19 crisis has plunged communities that were already struggling into further poverty and homelessness,” said Reina Tello, community organizer at PODER. “This report reveals what we already knew to be true: A public bank in San Francisco will provide an economic lifeline to San Franciscans for years to come. We can invest in what our people need, such as financing affordable housing, investing in small businesses, and building an economy that meets peoples’ needs.”

The report can be viewed in full here.

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The San Francisco Public Bank Coalition unites diverse community and labor organizations to advocate for a public bank, including Bill Sorro Housing Project (BiSHoP), People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights (PODER), Council of Community Housing Organizations (CCHO), Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights, Democratic Socialists of America – SF Chapter, and United Educators of San Francisco (UESF). 

Leaving a job in the time of COVID can be confusing for many reasons. Questions such as, “Why would you leave now of all times? Do you have a back-up job? Will you be okay?” arise at any mention of job insecurity. There is no one answer I can give as I become unemployed in this time of COVID and Shelter in Place.

Low-wage workers are acutely aware that this pandemic has left us with no stability to hold on to, and highlights a city with the lack of political will to ensure that we protect all of our most vulnerable during this time, especially our houseless neighbors.

We’ve seen an outpour of grief, anger, strength, and solidarity in marches, caravans, and protests for Black Lives that have walked up against aggressive police presence and a curfew that should never have been implemented in the first place.  It has shown us more than ever that we need to #DefundPolice, but will the city take the necessary steps to support those struggling or give into the  Police Officers Association (POA) once again?

As I left to figure out my new future, I am worried about the obstacles facing my favorite organization. If you know me, and you know PODER, you know that my commitment to environmental and economic justice started when I was a teenager via the Common Roots youth program led by PODER and the Chinese Progressive Association. My first step into organizing was doorknocking to ask about environmental issues in the Excelsior. From there, I was stuck to PODER and social justice like chicle in the sun.

PODER has been my family all these years, and contributed so much to my political awareness and personal growth.  It has moved me to create change. Even when I worked at CTWO, interned at ACCE, and worked on electoral or political campaigns, PODER kept me humble, standing with them on the frontlines, organizing with my community. I’ve made plenty of mistakes, as well, where I was always met with support and reminders of how to learn from them. 

I’ve spent half of my life dedicating myself to an organization that really is grassroots, from the bottom up.  Community members who’ve known me for countless years led the way to our solidarity economy campaigns, like Bicis Del Pueblo, and Hummingbird Farm. They laid the groundwork for all the affordable housing projects that PODER has spearheaded such as, 2060 Folsom (then 17th and Folsom) and the Balboa Upper Yard.  They began to put the building blocks in place to build a radical alternative to how we invest our public funds, away from Wall Street, and into a public bank. They diligently spent 17 years making sure that In Chan Kaajal reflected the vision the community is still holding onto for our city, a place that feels like home.  And through it all, it has been youth alongside the community leading the way.

Who would I be without the organizers in my community? Definitely not this version of myself that owes everything to people power!  This version of myself reminds me of this version of my community.  The beautiful leadership, cultura, ganas, and collective determination to roll up our sleeves, work together, share our vision, ideas, and hard work to build a better future.

Which is why it hurts so deeply to know that my community’s environmental and economic justice organization will be unable to hire a new community organizer after I am gone.  Our Mayor’s Office of Housing & Community Development, for the last number of years, has been investing our precious public resources to help sustain the community based planning and organizing led by PODER.  This work is what it takes to develop the future leaders in our communities, in particular among Latinx youth and immigrant families.  That funding has been cut.  It’s a sad day in San Pancho when our Mayor feels the need to defund trusted community programs just because the community’s voices are ones she disagrees with.

Our City is letting the community down again. As PODER, we fight for a safe, healthy and just place to live, work, play, go to school, and pray. It’s what I’ve stood by for over 15 years. As we continue to stand by these principles in our housing fights, promoting more affordable housing while the market tries to gobble up all the land they can find, gentrifying neighborhood after neighborhood, developers try to dip their hands into the Mission and Excelsior, and our City and our Mayor stand by.

I have faith that our community will find a way forward.  I have been part of that incredible brilliance and community self determination all these years. We will not be broken, and will return to the tireless work of putting the building blocks in place and developing the leaders who will guide us forward to creating that radical alternative we so desperately need at this time.

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These resources were put together by allied community organizations across San Francisco for accessible access.

Food:

• Here you will find information about SFUSD’s free pick up sites those who are 18 years old or younger.
• The Women’s Building’s Food pantry is available for seniors Mondays from 9-9:50am. Necessary precautions for health and safety are being taken. Monday’s 9:50-10:15am to the general public.
• At the OMI Resource Center – Every Tuesday for fresh food; every other day they can pick up dry goods
• The Richmond Neighborhood Center – 3 weekly food pantries for all Richmond District residents of any income level. We also offer Emergency Food access to any San Francisco resident.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco – The Club will remain open as a critical City service for the care and feeding of children who fall into three categories: 1.) economically and physically vulnerable children, 2.) children from families for whom telework and paid sick leave is not available, and 3.) the children of healthcare workers and other essential city workers.

Childcare:

• SF Childcare – Emergency Child and Youth Care – Space is limited due to the Shelter in Place Order
• Boys and Girls Clubs (limited)

Jobs and Unemployment:

• CA EDD (unemployment)
• SF Sick leave ordinance

Resources for Undocumented Community:

• Information from the California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance here
• San Francisco’s Rapid Response Hotline: 415-200-1548 — More info: https://sfilen.org/resources/sf-rapid-response-network/
• Relief Funds for Undocumented Workers in California here

Other Resources:

• Comcast Internet Support– Free 60 day internet access package for low-income families and/or $9.95/mo
• www.sf.gov/coronavirus – City gov’s collection of info and resources
• Mission Neighborhood Center Family Resource Center – El Centro Bayview serves Latino Families in the Bayview, Latino Families in District 10, Bayview Families, and families in Hope SF Sites.
• La Casa de Las Madres support for survivors of domestic abuse during shelter in place – Call La Casa’s 24/7 hotline at 1-877-503-1850, or message our text line at 415-200-3575, for support.
• Text COVID19SF to 888-777 – Get text updates from SF City Gov on Covid 19
• https://www.internetessentials.com/
• https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/internet-essentials-low-income-broadband-coronavirus-pandemic

This is a living document from the Freedom Community Clinic on mass resources in the Bay Area during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During this time, please make sure to:

Estos recursos fueron reunidos por organizaciones comunitarias aliadas en todo San Francisco para un acceso accesible.

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Comida:

• Aquí encontrará información sobre los sitios de comida para llevar  gratuita del SFUSD para aquellos que tienen 18 años o menos.
• La despensa de alimentos del Edificio de las Mujeres está disponible para las personas de la tercera edad los lunes de 9 a 9: 50 a.m. Se están tomando las precauciones necesarias para la salud y la seguridad. Lunes 9: 50-10: 15am al público en general.
• En el Centro de Recursos OMI – Todos los martes para comida fresca; cada dos días pueden recoger productos secos
• El Centro Vecinal de Richmond: 3 despensas de alimentos semanales para todos los residentes del Distrito de Richmond de cualquier nivel de ingresos. También ofrecemos acceso a alimentos de emergencia a cualquier residente de San Francisco.
• Boys & Girls Clubs de San Francisco: el Club permanecerá abierto como un servicio crítico de la Ciudad para el cuidado y la alimentación de los niños que se dividen en tres categorías: 1.) niños económicamente y físicamente vulnerables, 2.) niños de familias para quienes el teletrabajo y la licencia por enfermedad no remunerada no está disponible, y 3.) los hijos de trabajadores de la salud y otros trabajadores esenciales de la ciudad.

Cuidado de niños:

• SF Childcare – Cuidado de niños y adolescentes  de emergencia – El espacio es limitado 
• Boys and Girls Club (limitado)

Empleos y desempleo:

• CA EDD (desempleo)
• Ordenanza de licencia por enfermedad de SF

Recursos para la comunidad indocumentada:

• Información de la Alianza de Justicia Juvenil de Inmigrantes de California aquí
• Línea directa de respuesta rápida de San Francisco: 415-200-1548 – Más información: https://sfilen.org/resources/sf-rapid-response-network/
• Fondos de ayuda para trabajadores indocumentados en California aquí

Otros recursos:

• Soporte de Internet de Comcast: paquete de acceso gratuito a Internet de 60 días para familias de bajos ingresos y / o $ 9.95 / mes
• www.sf.gov/coronavirus – Colección de información y recursos del gobierno de la ciudad
• Centro de Recursos Familiares Mission Neighborhood Center – El Centro Bayview sirve a familias latinas en Bayview, familias latinas en el Distrito 10, familias Bayview y familias en los sitios Hope SF.
• Apoyo de La Casa de Las Madres para sobrevivientes de abuso doméstico durante el refugio: llame a la línea directa 24/7 de La Casa al 1-877-503-1850, o envíe un mensaje a nuestra línea de texto al 415-200-3575 para obtener ayuda.
• Envíe un mensaje de texto con COVID19 SF al 888-777 – Obtenga actualizaciones de texto de SF City Gov en Covid 19
• https://www.internetessentials.com/
• https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/internet-essentials-low-income-broadband-coronavirus-pandemic

Este es un documento vivo de Freedom Community Clinic sobre recursos masivos en el Área de la Bahía durante la pandemia COVID-19.

Whether helping our neighbors during an earthquake or opening our homes to them during a wildfire, Californians show up for each other, no matter what we look like, where we come from or where we live. We get through this together.

Now is the time to go all in for all of us.

As San Francisco community organizations and labor unions serving those most impacted by COVID-19, we have highlighted a 10 point platform for the city to address immediately. Join us in calling on our government officials and elected leaders to immediately address our demands on schools, healthcare, workers, and housing and homelessness.

Sign the petition on our website: sfunitedincrisis.org.

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