San Francisco communities endorse tax fairness to rescue city economy and services

As San Francisco confronts annual deficits of roughly half a billion dollars -- and an anticipated 75% loss to its general fund in the coming year -- a citywide coalition of labor, community, and neighborhood-based groups is proposing robust revenue solutions to help fix the city's fiscal crisis and flagging economy.

At city supervisors hearings on revenue Friday, July 9, labor unions and community groups will campaign for fair-tax measures to protect public services and promote sustainable, diversified economic development. Among their proposals are a hotel fairness initiative that would generate an estimated $35-50 million in revenue, and a gross receipts measure raising another $34 million to help alleviate spending cuts and stabilize the city's struggling economy.

"Instead of cutting vital programs, we're proposing revenue solutions that help save jobs, create economic activity, and protect crucial services residents depend on," said Christopher Cook, communications director for the Budget Justice Coalition, a group including dozens of community organizations from across the city.

The groups see new revenue as a vital spur promoting the city's key economic engines, including small neighborhood businesses, community-based jobs and services, and vitally needed public sector and nonprofit programs that serve the city and provide economically stimulative employment.

Despite $40 million in restored funding late last week, the city faces deepening deficits and massive cuts to safety net services such as public health clinics for the poor, mental health services, supportive housing, and youth crime prevention.

The fair tax campaign includes prominent San Francisco labor organizations and the Budget Justice Coalition, including dozens of groups representing seniors, youth, public health, homeless people, affordable housing, public parks, and neighborhoods.


For more information contact: Jennifer Friedenbach, Coalition on Homelessness, (415) 346-3740 x 306
Chelsea Boilard, Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth: (415) 218-2764