San Francisco Mayor London Breed unveiled plans April 29 for a $360 million bond aimed at bolstering the city through investments in health and shelter projects, street safety, and road repaving, as well as enhancements to public spaces, slated for the November ballot.
“We are working every day to make San Francisco a vibrant and healthy city,” Ms. Breed said in the news release. “This bond will invest in our critical infrastructure and advance projects that create jobs and prioritize important civic needs.”
Ms. Breed’s proposed bond funding is delineated into four primary categories.
A $167 million allocation for public health infrastructure projects is earmarked for renovating and expanding institutions such as Zuckerberg San Francisco General, Laguna Honda Hospital, and the Chinatown Health Clinic.
“We believe in health equity and care for all. ... This bond supports our commitment to those values by providing for seismic upgrades, critical repairs and much needed renovations,” Kim Meredith, CEO of San Francisco General Hospital Foundation said.
A total of $50 million is designated toward investing in shelter and housing for homeless families, including potential site acquisition or renovation. San Francisco currently provides over 330 units in family shelter and transitional housing and over 2,300 units of family housing in the Homelessness Response System.
The bond will also allocate $70 million to enhance street infrastructure, focusing on street safety projects and road repaving, alongside dedicated funding for street and sidewalk design improvements to ensure safer streets with enhanced crosswalks and sidewalks.
Additionally, it will provide supplementary funding for traffic safety and road design enhancements, exemplified by intersection improvements at Sloat Blvd to facilitate traffic circulation following the Great Highway Extension closure, while prioritizing safer access to the San Francisco Zoo.
“Creating safe and joyful streets will help revitalize our neighborhoods and make our city more welcoming for kids and families,” said Robin Pam, parent organizer with Kid Safe.
“My mother was simply crossing the street when she was hit by a speeding driver at a dangerous intersection in 2011,” Jenny Yu, founding member of SF Bay Area Families for Safe Streets said. “She suffers from severe brain injuries and has required 24-hour care since her crash.”
Lastly, the bond aims to support public space improvement projects with $25 million, including the revitalization of iconic locations such as Harvey Milk Plaza and Hallidie Plaza, among others.
“As a small business owner on Powell Street who depends on walk-in traffic, these potential investments in the public realm downtown are very heartening,” Lauren Ellis, owner of CK Contemporary Gallery said.
The bond is presently under review by the city’s Capital Planning Committee.
Following approval from the committee, the mayor will proceed to introduce it to the Board of Supervisors, where it will require eight votes to pass.
If approved by the board, it will go on the ballot where it will need two-thirds approval.
