In the year 2000 the Conservatory of San Francisco received $1.5 million from BVHP.

In the year 2000 - the State of California was given $47 million - mitigation money linked to adverse impacts from the operations of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E).

PG&E had just sold their Potrero Plant to Mirant - and there were mitigation fees involved. Anyway, the bottom line is San Francisco got $13.6 million and it is from these mitigation fees the the Department of Environment was created. Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr.was in charge - and Supervisor Sophie Maxwell was in charge of the distribution of the $13.6 million.

And audit was done on this distribution - with all sorts of conflict of interest - some years ago. But, no audit was done on the Conservatory of Flowers.

The point to note is that $1.5 million were given to the Conservatory of Flowers for repairs and to restore its past glory and history. Remember, the time when it was in very bad shape.

Some moot promise was made to train some gardeners - the Department of Public Works can vouch for that promise - but let us focus on the $1.5 million.

This generous donation came from some corrupt sources and the community did not know about it. Except a few of us that used the Freedom of Information Act to find out the details. For sure the Department of Environment was created with this money we know - and for sure Willie L.Brown Jr. has his sticky fingers in the unsavory transaction of sorts.

For sure Young Communities Development got some thousands and they were audit - years later.

For sure Bayview Advocates got $1.5 million and they too were audited.

For sure Literacy for Environmental Justice ( it was not incorporated at that time) but they got $900,000 - and they too were audited.

Money was set aside to put Solar Panels at Enola Maxwell Middle Schoool and that never happened. Enola has since passed away and is Sophie Maxwell's mother.
Some one should know where this money some $900,000 was spent?

Other dubious entities got part of the pie. But, always I wanted to know - how the SF Conservatory of Flowers, that is so much in need of money now - spent the money.

Way back when - I used to go to the Conservatory of Flowers and it was FREE. The tourists came and it was FREE. The tourists bought books and other stuff from the book stores and other facilities were well run and made enough money to keep everyone happy.

Then - in comes this for profit entity and it has been there for years - over 55 years according to the hearing - and decides to take over - all of the operations.

The deliberation were televised on SFGOVTV and there we heard the Financial Officer of Recreation and Park Cathy - making statements and acting cocky. Then came Phil Ginsberg a confidant of Mayor Gavin Newsom - and he was talking with his foot in his mouth.

Our City has a budget of $6.8 Billion. Now, we have in past afforded some amenities to all the constituents of San Francisco and beyond.

For example there is one Wednesday that the Museums offer free entrance.

The Museum of African Diaspora offers free entrance once in a while - may be once a month.

The Jewish Museum does the same - other organizations do it - to create good will and good vibes.

This after all is San Francisco - we embrace and are willing to share - and more we have filthy rich folks that live here and contribute to our Museums, our Opera, our large events that we love to show off from time to time.

Here you have the SF Recreation and Park destroying what has been built for years.

Our playgrounds now have artificial grass - the ones at Burton High School, Silver Terrace, Crocker Amazon, others to many to mention - laden with LEAD and controlled by a non-profit.

At Silver Terrace late at night in a neighborhood of people of color - you see White Folks from far away shout, scream, and make noise pass 11 pm - then you have guards who will not let you in - they say that the Park is booked by them - pointing to the palefaces.

The SF Recreation and Park is pushing GENTRIFICATION and this is not right.

The SF Recreation and Park Commissioner are snobs and I have spoken to them - they hear you out, alright - then do as they please.

As one time our children and our Mothers had programs where the children could do their home work with tutors and in a "safe haven" - no more.

Now, the SF Recreation and Park needs money for everything.

We had this problem in the South of Market area - the Gene Friends - SF Recreation and Park.
Children were told not to enter the Recreation area - others were told to pay money - this in a community that is hurting and for years - the children used the Gene Friends Recreation and Park facility - as a "safe haven".

Then you had some White folks in the recently built condominiums calling the SF Police Department on the children. The built their condominiums knowing fully well - it would be built next to a SF Recreation and Park Facility. The paradox is that the same site was once set aside to build a large Recreation Center - but, someone got greedy. Never ceases to amaze me how the GREEDY act and deceive our Mothers, Fathers, and children.

Children will run and make noise - that is what children do - but, when some folks do not like children and prefer their own sex and hate children - then all hell breaks loose. I dealt with this folks after a meeting was held.Some of those that complained came around - one began to tutor the children and said they were good children. Another took the children "tree planting" and soon became friends with them.

There was a time when SF Recreation and Park had track events - running 100 yards, hurdles, high jump - you know what I mean.

Youth were transported to areas and brought back safely. There were summer jobs where many an employee now working for the SF Recreation and Park - started as an intern years ago - holding a Summer Job. None of that is favored now - it is all about money - our sourcing is the SF Recreation and Parks forte.

The SF Recreation and Park operations and services are poor and their services especially- spiraling.

Now, I am calling for a CAP on the salaries of UPPER MANAGEMENT - we will save more then $5 million if not $10 million.

No one in UPPER MANAGEMENT should make $100,000 a year including benefits. If you want remain, you will like it - if not take a HIKE - sorry for the pun.
Follow the trail out of San Francisco and working for the once reliable, well run - SF Recreation and Park.

San Francisco has some beautiful Parks - the best that I favored McClaren Park. Once you could go horse riding - no more.

Once McClaren was well operated not any more - the gardeners are not supported and Upper Management is always in the face.

Now, we can go on and on - but, can we have a line by line item expense of the $1.5 million contributed to the Conservatory of Flowers by the constituents of Bayview Hunters Point by the corrupt Sophie Maxwell - without the constituents of Bayview Hunters Point and San Francisco - knowing.

The present SF Recreation and Park is corrupt and there is so much corruption going on - including the dumping of toxic dirt in the middle of Golden Gate Park and more. Misuse of funds - we can open a can of worms but should we. The last SF Recreation and Park Director had to leave his job - sexual harassment - Phil Ginsberg know better - he talks the talks but will NOT walk the walk.

http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org/visit/hours

God Bless America.


Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy

*************************************
*************************************

http://www.sfgov.org

*************************************
*************************************