The San Francisco city budget has gone up by more than a billion dollars a year since Willie Brown became mayor. And the lives of the neediest San Franciscans are only getting worse. Some went to nice contracts for the city unions that supported Brown. Some went to very nice contracts for big private companies that helped finance his reelection.
Homeless deaths are up.
Public health care is in crisis. Low-income tenants can't get help with rent, and evictions are soaring. This year, with district elections looming, the supervisors should not be allowed to let Brown's budget games continue. The People's Budget, prepared by a coalition of 42 local organizations, represents a serious attempt at a blueprint for the way the city ought to be funding social services. One of the best aspects of the People's Budget is that it focuses on solutions that wind up saving the city money in the long term.