San Francisco faces protests over potential budget cuts

Protesters oppose a budget that would fund law enforcement and surveillance while cutting food assistance programs and unfairly burden residents with an extremely high cost of living. CONTRIBUTED

SAN FRANCISCO – Protesters gathered recently at the San Francisco City Hall to protest against proposed budget cuts that would impact essential services, including housing subsidies and emergency rental assistance.

The People’s Budget Coalition, a powerful alliance of labor unions and nonprofit groups, announced their united front against what they described as “undue influence of tech magnates and real estate tycoons in shaping San Francisco‘s forthcoming budgetary decisions.”

The coalition is composed of more than 40 public sector workers, childcare workers, working families of color, youth and elders calling for a city budget that prioritizes all communities in San Francisco.

“Every San Franciscan has the right to live here: working San Franciscans and families, people of color, people who are homeless or unstably housed, seniors, people with disabilities, low-wage workers, low-income tenants, people living with HIV/AIDS, Hep C or other terminal illnesses, queer and transgender/gender non-conforming people and people in the justice system,” the coalition said in a statement.

“These are the people who love San Francisco, keep it running, and make it the unique place that we call home.”

The coalition opposed a budget that would fund law enforcement and surveillance “while cutting food assistance programs and unfairly burden residents with escalating housing costs, childcare expenses and an extremely high cost of overall living.”

“The budget should not be balanced on the backs of the working class and poor San Franciscans,” said Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco Interim Executive Director Maria I. Zamudio. “We demand that the City prioritize housing, jobs, childcare, senior services and more that our residents rely on. Don’t we all deserve to call this city home?”

The coalition said that despite the city budget increasing to unprecedented levels during the last two years and civic leaders announcing considerable surplus, essential staffing for crucial municipal services remains inadequate.

The slashing of vital services such as tenant legal aid, building code enforcement, and food assistance programs will only serve to compound existing economic challenges, the coalition added.

“History has shown us time and again that we cannot cut our way out of a crisis – we have to invest our way out,” said Joe Wilson, executive director of Hospitality House. “Better budget choices today can chart a better way forward tomorrow – for all our communities.”