Supervisor Sophie Maxwell Speaks at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

Supervisor Sophie Maxwell spoke at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce recently about issues that concern the City and District 10. Here are the highlights:

What's the story on the City budget?

• Supervisor Maxwell stated that the City budget deficit is a"day-to-day issue" due to the uncertainties caused by California's $24 billion budget shortfall. That is, money that the City should receive from the State today may not be available tomorrow.
• The Board of Supervisors (BOS) islooking at revenue options and needs organized labor to make concessions.
  
• The current hot topic is the $82 million in cuts approved by the BOS--via an interim budget--to public safety (police, fire and sheriff) budgets. The cuts are an attempt to 'share the pain' across all city departments to close San Francisco's $438 million budget shortfall and, specifically, to prevent cuts to the Department of Public Health (DPH). Supervisor Maxwell doesn't feel that DPH is in a financial crisis based on the department's numbers. Conversely, Supervisor Maxwell stated that the vast network of health and human services indirectly aides public safety by helping those citizens who need it. Cuts to DPH programs might push some to harm themselves, or the public.
  

What are Supervisor Maxwell's future plans?

• The Supervisor hasn't made a decision on her future political or non-political ambitions other than to "get some rest".

The Supervisor is termed out in 2010; who does she feel her replacement will be?

• Lynette Sweet, a BART Board of Directors member is someone she would like to see become a possible candidate for her seat.
  
• When asked about the rumors that California Integrated Waste Management Board Member, and former State Senator Carole Migden might run for the District 10 seat, she stated: "I hope she doesn't."
  
• Supervisor Maxwell stated she thought a viable candidate to succeed her should be someone from the community who is intimately familiar with the issues and the diverse people of that district and who will be equally responsive to the concerns of all of District 10's constituencies.
  

What other issues did Supervisor Maxwell speak about?

• She is working on the health disparities for people of color.
• The Supervisor believes that job creation is critical to maintaining a healthy community, and is especially supportive of keeping some manufacturing jobs in San Francisco. At present, the manufacturing sector represents only 5.9% of jobs in the City.
• Supervisor Maxwell is concerned about maintaining African American representation not only on the Board of Supervisors, but in other elected offices in city government.
  
• Supervisor Maxwell feels that the non-profit organizations in the City are an essential part of our city's service delivery system. Indeed, she mentioned San Franciscans were already doing what President Obama was asking citizens across the country to do: become involved in your community by volunteering.