Transcripts For SFGTV Government Access Programming 20180127

Supervisors agenda unless otherwise stated. Supervisor ronen please call item number 1. Excuse me. Agenda item number 1 hearing to temperature the issuance of a Liquor License to the gum hua lee business located at 915 stockson street will serve the public convenience or necessity of the city and county. Supervisor ronen thank you so much. Im officer patrick mack from the San Francisco Police Department and you have a pcm report for gum hua lee and they have allied for a license and this would allow them to sell beer, wine. There are zero letters of protest. Zero letters of support. They are located in plot 148 considered a high crime area. They are in census track 113 which is a high saturation area. And Central Station has no opposition and alu approves with no recommended conditions. Supervisor ronen any questions, supervisor fewer . No. I understand that the applicant is here, would you like to speak . No . Ok. Is there any Public Comment on the item. Public comment is now open. Seeing none, Public Comment is closed. Would you like to make a motion, supervisor fewer. Supervisor fewer id like to make a motion to move this to the full board with a positive recommendation. Supervisor ronen this is passed. Can you read item number 2 . Clerk an ordinance directing the Arts Commission to erect a statue of maya angelou at the main library. Including building names, street names, be women. Amending the administrative code to create a fund to accept gifts to pay for the design, construction, repair to public art depicting historic women on City Property and affirming the relevant findings. Supervisor ronen on behalf of the sponsor i would like to move to continue this item to the call of the chair . Without objection clerk that would be in order after Public Comment is taken on the item. Supervisor ronen youre right. I would like to open the item up to Public Comment. If any member would like to comment on the item, now is the time to come forward . Seeing none, Public Comment is closed. Like to make a motion to continue this item to the call of the chair . Without objection, that motion passes. Can you call item number 3. Cochair item number 3, ordinance amending the health code to ban the sale in San Francisco of animal fur products. Thank you very much, supervisors, colleagues, so today we have before you a legislation that would ban the sale of fur in San Francisco. And i will have a couple of amendments that i have passed out before you as well, so there will be a few changes such as the operative date. But i wanted to share that i know this is a topic that can arouse a lot of emotion. I know that there are many folks in the room who have done a lot in terms of Animal Welfare and i want to thank all of you, there are so many different organizations out there doing this work. I was inspired after seeing that the city of berkley had passed a similar legislation after West Hollywood had done the same as well. I think it is really important because a lot of times you know we talk about fashion and apparel and this is what the legislation would impact specifically, apparel and accessories that contain fur. We dont know how the animals are actually treated, what kind of conditions theyre living in. Throughout the world, you know, fur has become such a popular product. And not just for apparel, but for so many other things. And fur farming has just gotten to the point where animals are again living in cramped spaces. They are electrocuted, some of them. There are so many different methods, i dont want to get into it how they are treated to obtain the fur. I dont believe we should be profiting on the backs of animals. Literally. So, one of the things that were trying to do here is really to send a strong statement here in San Francisco, which is that we find it unacceptable to be selling fur, or manufacturing fur here in the city, so i know that there are some businesses that do carry products that contain fur and certainly that will be something well be hearing from some of the businesses today as well. But i do think it is important for us to take the stand here in San Francisco. So, some of the folks that i want to thank here, direct action everywhere, who has been working on this, compassionate bay area, the coalition for animals. For free West Hollywood, free berkeley, and peta and so many other organizations. I know that a lot of times people say these Animal Welfare organizations are extremists, right . I will say without them, people going into fur farms and so forth, we wouldnt know the conditions the animals live in. I wanted to speak up on their behalf. Its no secret i love animals. With that said, colleagues, i wanted to share some amendments ill be making today. So we did amend some of the findings, so youll see that throughout the beginning of the legislation. We are changing the operative date to january 1, 2019. Youll find that on page 4, line 14 as well as on the last page, i believe, last page 6, line 19. We are removing the exemption for nonprofits and thats on page 4, line 7. We are amending legislation to specify that sale of used products and manufacturing from used fur products is included as part of the legislation and thats on page 4, line 1314. So, colleagues, im hoping we can adopt those amendments today. From my understanding through the City Attorney office those amendments require that this legislation be continued to another hearing. So with that, im happy to take any questions. I did want to also mention because i got a lot of questions about this, leather is not part of the legislation, its just fur here. So with that, i know a lot of people want to speak on the item, if its ok with the chair, id like to open it up for Public Comment. Supervisor ronen is that ok, supervisor fewer . Ok, i have a few speaker cards, richard, stanley and deborah. Anybody else who would like to speak, line up on this side of the room, that would be great. Please come forward. Each member of the public will have two minutes. Thank you, supervisors, ladies and gentlemen, my name is richard and a very long time ago i was chair person of the San Francisco animal control and Welfare Commission which reports to this board. In the year 2000, october 11th to be exact, the Commission Recommended at this very same board the ban of fur sale products within the limits of the city of San Francisco. There was a less than enthusiastic response from that board. However, this issue has not changed. The fur industry is still based on cruelty rather here or abroad. This issue was brought to the commissions attention bit sale of coats by the sale of coats that were trimmed in mongolian wolf lair, but it turned how the to be dog hair because there was no way to check. And either was appalling to be used to trim jackets. To my shock and dismay, currently fur is making a horrible comeback, you see it from the fashionable designers and celebrities wearing and promoting fur. Make no doubt, its the same old cruel industry and there are plenty of furfree alternatives. To borrow from my friends and colleagues at peta, there is no need to be cruel to stay warm and look cool. Its a horrible thing to do. I would like to thank supervisor tang for bringing up the issue and i strongly urge everyone to contact their Board Members from their district and pressure and urge that supervisor to vote for this long overdue piece of legislation. Thank you very much. Supervisor ronen thank you. Next speaker, please. Hi, im the owner of west coast leather. Former general manager and assistant designer of north beach leather. Ive been in the Leather Industry for 32 years. Yesterday i came back from being sick and got an email from the bid association that i might want to be commenting on this hearing today. And i was not aware of the legislation, or notified, questioned, any research possibly done that would involve west coast leather. We are the largest retailer, like a department store, of leather and we do carry fur. All different categories of leather. So, when you examine a business, like a Small Business like west coast leather, there are sales that are generated which fur and fur trim and fur accessories would be a part of our business. And if there was a ban on every type of fur, that would lose 10 of my business at a significant negativity towards the small retailers surviving. I spoke with the supervisor this morning, she was very polite and listened to my concerns. I also notified all the other Committee Members that i was very upset that i wasnt made aware of this prior to the legislation. And just for an example, over the 18 years ive owned the company, weve generated over is million in sales tax through the sales of our store. So, its difficult [belling ringing] supervisor ronen sorry, there is a time limit for public speakers, everyone gets two minutes. [inaudible] supervisor ronen its a Standard Practice on committee that each speaker has two minutes. Thank you for your comments. Next speaker, please. Good morning, my name is deborah, im with west coast leather. One of the tenets of the United States constitution is freedom of expression. If a woman makes a choice to wear a short skirt and go braless she was the constitutional right to do so and has the right to wear fur and leather. Both men and women have that right. As american citizens we have many First Amendment rights including the right to bear arms, the right to eat meat and the right to wear fur. The choice to wear fur is an individual choice in our constitutional right. Just as i may want a steak, i may want to wear my furtrimmed Leather Jacket on a cold day. Again its my choice. Vegans dont have the right to tell me what to eat and this ordinance should not tell me what to wear. We are one of the leading purveyors of custom made fur around the world. Some of these customers have been coming for 40 years. Were a Small Business operating in union square, a momandpop shop. We have a staff of eight people. Those eight people depend on us for salaries and family to get by. A ban on fur is going to decimate our bottom line sales, making it difficult, if not impossible to meet our obligations please, were asking you to not pass this ban. Supervisor ronen thank you. Next speaker, please. Hi, im here on behalf of compassionate bay with fellow organizers and here to voice my support of the ban and urge you all to do the same. I am sensitive to the concerns brought up today and ive spent a lot of hours over the past days and weeks talking to San Francisco residents about this ban. And the support has been overwhelming. We have collected almost 500 letters from San Francisco residents in support of this ban as well as tens of thousands of signatures. And i feel like as we evolve as a society, people want to shop in places that align with their ethics. I know for myself and my fellow organizers we would be happy to support Small Businesses that are transitioning away interest fur. This is from fur. This is not the only option. There are so many alternatives out there better for the environment and better for animals and will not hurt Small Businesses, especially given that we have more time to allow the businesses to transition. I want to speak on behalf of the animals who like katy said are not here today and need us to speak up for them. Some of the footage of the fur industry, some of the most disturbing footage in my years as animal advocate. These animals should have rights to their own bodies and lives. I want to say thank you to everyone for considering the ban and thank you for being a leader in progressive issues, for speaking up for the animals, protecting our environment and making San Francisco and the bay area a place im proud to call home. Thank you. Supervisor ronen next speaker, please. Hi, my name is wayne, im a lawyer and cofounder of the animal rights. Im coming here speaking on behalf of hundreds of members in San Francisco, thousands across the bay area. This is a deeply personal issue. Ive lived through some of my most horrible experiences of my life investigating these facilities, where you find dogs and cats, sitting in their own feces, languishing in cages, gnawing their own limbs off, sometimes cannibalized each other. 10 of the foxes raised in fur farm die from cannibalism because they go insane and go mad living in a cage with one partner. Not all the fur animals are raised on these farms, they say. This is the way the other 15 killed for an fur day. A leg hold trap is inhumane. If you play with this trap, i cannot pull this open with all my strength. Coyotes, fox, dogs and cats accidentally trapped, they starve to death, die of dehydration, e cruciating pain, bones are fractured and separated from their children. One of the most horrendous things that happens, the mothers sometimes gnaw their own legs off in a desperate attempt to try to get home. While i empathize with all the Small Business people who may have to make transition, weve data showing this can be done in an economically viable way. West hollywood continues to flourish and we would be happy to work with the Business People in making supervisor ronen thank you so much. Next speaker, please. Good morning. My name is ashley burn. My colleague nickie and i are here on behalf of the ethical treatment of animals and there are 6. 5 million members and supporters worldwide, including thousands here in the city of San Francisco. We respectfully request that you support supervisor tangs proposal to ban the sale of fur apparel in the city. Such a ban would help prevent extreme cruelty to animals, like what youve been hearing about already today. For decades, peta has exposed horrific cruelty on fur farms in the u. S. And around the world. The industry is the same today as when we first investigated it. Our investigators have witnessed and documented that foxes are electrocuted, dogs bludgeoned, rabbits scream as theyre electroshocked. As you may know, the movement to end the use of fur is growing all over the world. Earlier this month norway became the latest country to introduce a total ban on fur farming. Joining croatia, germany, japan, the United Kingdom and other countries that have taken steps to shut down fur farms. Hundreds of major designers and retailers, including Luxury Brands like bcbg, gucci, michael kors and gap and the north face have banned instead for opting for faux options that are better for the animals. San francisco will be the first major city to ban fur sales. This is a progressive city, so lets show this by taking this step and inspiring other cities across the country to take similar actions to protect the animals. Thank you. Supervisor ronen thank you so much. Next speaker. Hi, my name is sonya, im the bay area director of the Factory Farming Coalition and i fully support this ban. Freedom of choice is important, but shouldnt there be limits to choices when they hinder the agency of these animals . Ive seen several investigations of fur farms, its one of the most disturbing things ive ever seen. Cruelty is not fashion, nor is it beautiful. Nor are profits more important than the wellbeing of animals when there are plenty of furfree alternatives. Thank you. Supervisor ronen is there any other member of the public who would like to speak . Seeing none, Public Comment is closed. Thank you, Committee Members, again, thank you everyone else who came out and working on the issue for years and years and years. As someone had mentioned, it certainly is an issue that hasnt gone away. I hope through our legislation it will inspire other cities, maybe even our country, for the 50 million animals that are violent killed each year for their fur. So, with that said, colleagues, id like to see if we can take a motion to adopt the amendments and then if so, to continue the item as amended to your next Committee Meeting . I make a motion to adopt amendments and continue this. With that objection, that motion passes. Thank you so much. Thank you, supervisor tang. Can you please call item number 4. Hearing to explore the development of good Food Purchasing policies for key city departments. Supervisor fewer thank you, chair ronen, ive been looking forward to this hearing and want to thank the members of the public for being here today. As a former member of the San Francisco board of education, i was proud to author the good Food Purchasing policy for the San Francisco Unified School District which has begun to be implemented and im glad to highlight their work. The good Food Purchasing program focuses on developing standards for food procurement in five areas. Animal welfare, nutrition, environmental subject and local economies. It is exciting to think about the adoption of a policy like this for key departments in Liquor License<\/a> to the gum hua lee business located at 915 stockson street will serve the public convenience or necessity of the city and county. Supervisor ronen thank you so much. Im officer patrick mack from the San Francisco<\/a> Police Department<\/a> and you have a pcm report for gum hua lee and they have allied for a license and this would allow them to sell beer, wine. There are zero letters of protest. Zero letters of support. They are located in plot 148 considered a high crime area. They are in census track 113 which is a high saturation area. And Central Station<\/a> has no opposition and alu approves with no recommended conditions. Supervisor ronen any questions, supervisor fewer . No. I understand that the applicant is here, would you like to speak . No . Ok. Is there any Public Comment<\/a> on the item. Public comment is now open. Seeing none, Public Comment<\/a> is closed. Would you like to make a motion, supervisor fewer. Supervisor fewer id like to make a motion to move this to the full board with a positive recommendation. Supervisor ronen this is passed. Can you read item number 2 . Clerk an ordinance directing the Arts Commission<\/a> to erect a statue of maya angelou at the main library. Including building names, street names, be women. Amending the administrative code to create a fund to accept gifts to pay for the design, construction, repair to public art depicting historic women on City Property<\/a> and affirming the relevant findings. Supervisor ronen on behalf of the sponsor i would like to move to continue this item to the call of the chair . Without objection clerk that would be in order after Public Comment<\/a> is taken on the item. Supervisor ronen youre right. I would like to open the item up to Public Comment<\/a>. If any member would like to comment on the item, now is the time to come forward . Seeing none, Public Comment<\/a> is closed. Like to make a motion to continue this item to the call of the chair . Without objection, that motion passes. Can you call item number 3. Cochair item number 3, ordinance amending the health code to ban the sale in San Francisco<\/a> of animal fur products. Thank you very much, supervisors, colleagues, so today we have before you a legislation that would ban the sale of fur in San Francisco<\/a>. And i will have a couple of amendments that i have passed out before you as well, so there will be a few changes such as the operative date. But i wanted to share that i know this is a topic that can arouse a lot of emotion. I know that there are many folks in the room who have done a lot in terms of Animal Welfare<\/a> and i want to thank all of you, there are so many different organizations out there doing this work. I was inspired after seeing that the city of berkley had passed a similar legislation after West Hollywood<\/a> had done the same as well. I think it is really important because a lot of times you know we talk about fashion and apparel and this is what the legislation would impact specifically, apparel and accessories that contain fur. We dont know how the animals are actually treated, what kind of conditions theyre living in. Throughout the world, you know, fur has become such a popular product. And not just for apparel, but for so many other things. And fur farming has just gotten to the point where animals are again living in cramped spaces. They are electrocuted, some of them. There are so many different methods, i dont want to get into it how they are treated to obtain the fur. I dont believe we should be profiting on the backs of animals. Literally. So, one of the things that were trying to do here is really to send a strong statement here in San Francisco<\/a>, which is that we find it unacceptable to be selling fur, or manufacturing fur here in the city, so i know that there are some businesses that do carry products that contain fur and certainly that will be something well be hearing from some of the businesses today as well. But i do think it is important for us to take the stand here in San Francisco<\/a>. So, some of the folks that i want to thank here, direct action everywhere, who has been working on this, compassionate bay area, the coalition for animals. For free West Hollywood<\/a>, free berkeley, and peta and so many other organizations. I know that a lot of times people say these Animal Welfare<\/a> organizations are extremists, right . I will say without them, people going into fur farms and so forth, we wouldnt know the conditions the animals live in. I wanted to speak up on their behalf. Its no secret i love animals. With that said, colleagues, i wanted to share some amendments ill be making today. So we did amend some of the findings, so youll see that throughout the beginning of the legislation. We are changing the operative date to january 1, 2019. Youll find that on page 4, line 14 as well as on the last page, i believe, last page 6, line 19. We are removing the exemption for nonprofits and thats on page 4, line 7. We are amending legislation to specify that sale of used products and manufacturing from used fur products is included as part of the legislation and thats on page 4, line 1314. So, colleagues, im hoping we can adopt those amendments today. From my understanding through the City Attorney<\/a> office those amendments require that this legislation be continued to another hearing. So with that, im happy to take any questions. I did want to also mention because i got a lot of questions about this, leather is not part of the legislation, its just fur here. So with that, i know a lot of people want to speak on the item, if its ok with the chair, id like to open it up for Public Comment<\/a>. Supervisor ronen is that ok, supervisor fewer . Ok, i have a few speaker cards, richard, stanley and deborah. Anybody else who would like to speak, line up on this side of the room, that would be great. Please come forward. Each member of the public will have two minutes. Thank you, supervisors, ladies and gentlemen, my name is richard and a very long time ago i was chair person of the San Francisco<\/a> animal control and Welfare Commission<\/a> which reports to this board. In the year 2000, october 11th to be exact, the Commission Recommended<\/a> at this very same board the ban of fur sale products within the limits of the city of San Francisco<\/a>. There was a less than enthusiastic response from that board. However, this issue has not changed. The fur industry is still based on cruelty rather here or abroad. This issue was brought to the commissions attention bit sale of coats by the sale of coats that were trimmed in mongolian wolf lair, but it turned how the to be dog hair because there was no way to check. And either was appalling to be used to trim jackets. To my shock and dismay, currently fur is making a horrible comeback, you see it from the fashionable designers and celebrities wearing and promoting fur. Make no doubt, its the same old cruel industry and there are plenty of furfree alternatives. To borrow from my friends and colleagues at peta, there is no need to be cruel to stay warm and look cool. Its a horrible thing to do. I would like to thank supervisor tang for bringing up the issue and i strongly urge everyone to contact their Board Members<\/a> from their district and pressure and urge that supervisor to vote for this long overdue piece of legislation. Thank you very much. Supervisor ronen thank you. Next speaker, please. Hi, im the owner of west coast leather. Former general manager and assistant designer of north beach leather. Ive been in the Leather Industry<\/a> for 32 years. Yesterday i came back from being sick and got an email from the bid association that i might want to be commenting on this hearing today. And i was not aware of the legislation, or notified, questioned, any research possibly done that would involve west coast leather. We are the largest retailer, like a department store, of leather and we do carry fur. All different categories of leather. So, when you examine a business, like a Small Business<\/a> like west coast leather, there are sales that are generated which fur and fur trim and fur accessories would be a part of our business. And if there was a ban on every type of fur, that would lose 10 of my business at a significant negativity towards the small retailers surviving. I spoke with the supervisor this morning, she was very polite and listened to my concerns. I also notified all the other Committee Members<\/a> that i was very upset that i wasnt made aware of this prior to the legislation. And just for an example, over the 18 years ive owned the company, weve generated over is million in sales tax through the sales of our store. So, its difficult [belling ringing] supervisor ronen sorry, there is a time limit for public speakers, everyone gets two minutes. [inaudible] supervisor ronen its a Standard Practice<\/a> on committee that each speaker has two minutes. Thank you for your comments. Next speaker, please. Good morning, my name is deborah, im with west coast leather. One of the tenets of the United States<\/a> constitution is freedom of expression. If a woman makes a choice to wear a short skirt and go braless she was the constitutional right to do so and has the right to wear fur and leather. Both men and women have that right. As american citizens we have many First Amendment<\/a> rights including the right to bear arms, the right to eat meat and the right to wear fur. The choice to wear fur is an individual choice in our constitutional right. Just as i may want a steak, i may want to wear my furtrimmed Leather Jacket<\/a> on a cold day. Again its my choice. Vegans dont have the right to tell me what to eat and this ordinance should not tell me what to wear. We are one of the leading purveyors of custom made fur around the world. Some of these customers have been coming for 40 years. Were a Small Business<\/a> operating in union square, a momandpop shop. We have a staff of eight people. Those eight people depend on us for salaries and family to get by. A ban on fur is going to decimate our bottom line sales, making it difficult, if not impossible to meet our obligations please, were asking you to not pass this ban. Supervisor ronen thank you. Next speaker, please. Hi, im here on behalf of compassionate bay with fellow organizers and here to voice my support of the ban and urge you all to do the same. I am sensitive to the concerns brought up today and ive spent a lot of hours over the past days and weeks talking to San Francisco<\/a> residents about this ban. And the support has been overwhelming. We have collected almost 500 letters from San Francisco<\/a> residents in support of this ban as well as tens of thousands of signatures. And i feel like as we evolve as a society, people want to shop in places that align with their ethics. I know for myself and my fellow organizers we would be happy to support Small Business<\/a>es that are transitioning away interest fur. This is from fur. This is not the only option. There are so many alternatives out there better for the environment and better for animals and will not hurt Small Business<\/a>es, especially given that we have more time to allow the businesses to transition. I want to speak on behalf of the animals who like katy said are not here today and need us to speak up for them. Some of the footage of the fur industry, some of the most disturbing footage in my years as animal advocate. These animals should have rights to their own bodies and lives. I want to say thank you to everyone for considering the ban and thank you for being a leader in progressive issues, for speaking up for the animals, protecting our environment and making San Francisco<\/a> and the bay area a place im proud to call home. Thank you. Supervisor ronen next speaker, please. Hi, my name is wayne, im a lawyer and cofounder of the animal rights. Im coming here speaking on behalf of hundreds of members in San Francisco<\/a>, thousands across the bay area. This is a deeply personal issue. Ive lived through some of my most horrible experiences of my life investigating these facilities, where you find dogs and cats, sitting in their own feces, languishing in cages, gnawing their own limbs off, sometimes cannibalized each other. 10 of the foxes raised in fur farm die from cannibalism because they go insane and go mad living in a cage with one partner. Not all the fur animals are raised on these farms, they say. This is the way the other 15 killed for an fur day. A leg hold trap is inhumane. If you play with this trap, i cannot pull this open with all my strength. Coyotes, fox, dogs and cats accidentally trapped, they starve to death, die of dehydration, e cruciating pain, bones are fractured and separated from their children. One of the most horrendous things that happens, the mothers sometimes gnaw their own legs off in a desperate attempt to try to get home. While i empathize with all the Small Business<\/a> people who may have to make transition, weve data showing this can be done in an economically viable way. West hollywood continues to flourish and we would be happy to work with the Business People<\/a> in making supervisor ronen thank you so much. Next speaker, please. Good morning. My name is ashley burn. My colleague nickie and i are here on behalf of the ethical treatment of animals and there are 6. 5 million members and supporters worldwide, including thousands here in the city of San Francisco<\/a>. We respectfully request that you support supervisor tangs proposal to ban the sale of fur apparel in the city. Such a ban would help prevent extreme cruelty to animals, like what youve been hearing about already today. For decades, peta has exposed horrific cruelty on fur farms in the u. S. And around the world. The industry is the same today as when we first investigated it. Our investigators have witnessed and documented that foxes are electrocuted, dogs bludgeoned, rabbits scream as theyre electroshocked. As you may know, the movement to end the use of fur is growing all over the world. Earlier this month norway became the latest country to introduce a total ban on fur farming. Joining croatia, germany, japan, the United Kingdom<\/a> and other countries that have taken steps to shut down fur farms. Hundreds of major designers and retailers, including Luxury Brands<\/a> like bcbg, gucci, michael kors and gap and the north face have banned instead for opting for faux options that are better for the animals. San francisco will be the first major city to ban fur sales. This is a progressive city, so lets show this by taking this step and inspiring other cities across the country to take similar actions to protect the animals. Thank you. Supervisor ronen thank you so much. Next speaker. Hi, my name is sonya, im the bay area director of the Factory Farming Coalition<\/a> and i fully support this ban. Freedom of choice is important, but shouldnt there be limits to choices when they hinder the agency of these animals . Ive seen several investigations of fur farms, its one of the most disturbing things ive ever seen. Cruelty is not fashion, nor is it beautiful. Nor are profits more important than the wellbeing of animals when there are plenty of furfree alternatives. Thank you. Supervisor ronen is there any other member of the public who would like to speak . Seeing none, Public Comment<\/a> is closed. Thank you, Committee Members<\/a>, again, thank you everyone else who came out and working on the issue for years and years and years. As someone had mentioned, it certainly is an issue that hasnt gone away. I hope through our legislation it will inspire other cities, maybe even our country, for the 50 million animals that are violent killed each year for their fur. So, with that said, colleagues, id like to see if we can take a motion to adopt the amendments and then if so, to continue the item as amended to your next Committee Meeting<\/a> . I make a motion to adopt amendments and continue this. With that objection, that motion passes. Thank you so much. Thank you, supervisor tang. Can you please call item number 4. Hearing to explore the development of good Food Purchasing<\/a> policies for key city departments. Supervisor fewer thank you, chair ronen, ive been looking forward to this hearing and want to thank the members of the public for being here today. As a former member of the San Francisco<\/a> board of education, i was proud to author the good Food Purchasing<\/a> policy for the San Francisco<\/a> Unified School District<\/a> which has begun to be implemented and im glad to highlight their work. The good Food Purchasing<\/a> program focuses on developing standards for food procurement in five areas. Animal welfare, nutrition, environmental subject and local economies. It is exciting to think about the adoption of a policy like this for key departments in San Francisco<\/a>, the jail, our hospitals through the department of Public Health<\/a>. The city and county of San Francisco<\/a> spends millions of dollars on procurement and a good Food Purchasing<\/a> policy could have impact on how the dollars are spent, to ensure good working conditions for food workers, that are supporting agriculture and that are vendors are engaged in production. The hears is to discuss institutions like fsusd on the good Food Purchasing<\/a> and to hear from the department of Public Health<\/a> and the Sheriffs Department<\/a>. And how a model like good Food Purchasing<\/a> could complement the work theyre engaged in now. With that, id like to bring up alexa, executive director for the center for good Food Purchasing<\/a> to briefly describe the program. Good morning, supervisors, i apologize i wasnt hear promptly, i was using your lactation and there was someone ahead of me. Made my morning much easier, thank you for having that. Good morning, im the cofounder and executive director of the center for good Food Purchasing<\/a> and here to provide an overview of the good food program. Each year, cities and School District<\/a>s spend billions of dollars on food. Many of these institutions recognize the transformative power their food purchases can have on our food system, but its nearly impossible to know where the food is coming from or how it was produced. The good Food Purchasing<\/a> Program Offers<\/a> the framework and tools to help institutions ensure that our public food dollars are invested in a food system that supports good jobs, supports the environment, supports high welfare for farm animals, supports the regional producers and protects the health of our communities. The good Food Purchasing<\/a> program is a center of the good Food Purchasing<\/a>. We work with institutions to increase supply chain transparency, provide information and leverage the buying power to create shifts in the market. The program was first adopted by the city of los angeles in the l. A. Unified School District<\/a> in 2012. Following this, in 2016, under the leadership of the then School Board Member<\/a> sandra fewer, the San Francisco<\/a> Unified School District<\/a> became the First Institution<\/a> outside of l. A. To adopt the program. After that, the program spread like wildfire and we received formal policy adoptions through oakland, chicago and Chicago Public<\/a> schools. Were working with 24 institutions in 12 cities with purview over 500 million in institutional food purchases. The good Food Purchasing<\/a> program is a collective impact initiative. These are many of the partners at the National Level<\/a> and the local partners assembled here today who help expand the program nationally. Ill give you a quick overview of how the Center Supports<\/a> institution. Food Service Director<\/a> approaches us and we perform a baseline evaluation to show them where their food dollars are going, how the purchases align with the set of standards and at the same time, a local multisector coalition mobilizes to ensure that the institutions priorities are also the communitys priorities. With the support of the coalition, the center assists them with goal setting, incorporating metrics into policy and requests for proposals, and contracts and we measure the progress annually and evaluate successes. At the heart of the program is our standards, which ill explain. We brought together leading experts from across the country in each of the five value categories. The standards which point to certifications like u usd a organic. Theyre expected to make change in each of the five value categories by sourcing a certain amount of food. Like certification for green buildings, an institution there is a basic baseline minimum that an institution is expected to hit, but we inspire institutions to score better and better across the criteria. This slide provides a basic overview of the evaluation process. The information we share on the baseline evaluation helps institutions set goals, make shifts and measure progress annually. As i mentioned, they adopted the program in l. A. In 2012 and they accomplished quite a bit in a short period of time. 28 meat reduction that has led to significant carbon and water savings. At the same time, the district began purchasing better meat. Including issuing 70 million in contracts for chicken produced without antibiotics. Redirecting the food dollars to local producers led to the creation of over 150 jobs in the district supply chain and helped to improve the working conditions and live of over 165 truck drivers. With better wages and improved benefits. We have been working with oakland School District<\/a> since 2014 and this past summer they earned the highest level of achievement with four stars in the program. Not only has oaklands transformation led to benefit for students, the local economy and the environment, but theyve done this while reducing per meal costs. Our partners at friends of the earth documented over this two years, student participation and satisfaction in the School Meals Program<\/a> increased. Just to conclude, as we build more and more purchasing power from cities and School District<\/a>s, were not only leveraging the buying power, but Building Collective<\/a> voice and power of local coalitions and local leaders to improve our food system on a large scale. San Francisco City<\/a> and county has an extraordinary opportunity to once again lead the way, by becoming the first city in the county to develop the program. Now wed like to introduce lauren, product manager of Student Nutrition Services<\/a> at the San Francisco<\/a> Unified School District<\/a> who will be presenting on the experience with adopting and implementing their good Food Purchasing<\/a> policy. Good morning, commissioners, im the project manager with San Francisco<\/a> Unified School District<\/a> future dining experience. Its my pleasure to come and present to you on our experience so far with the adoption of the good Food Purchasing<\/a> policy. I have actually had the opportunity to be working on the implementation and integration into the district. And ill present to you on where we are and then open it up for questions if you have any. I wanted to start the presentation to give you a sense of who Student Nutrition Services<\/a> is and why we elected to adopt the good food of purchasing policy. Its a system that provides access to and engages all students in eating fresh, health, food. Our mission is that we nourish our students with quality food and strengthen the school food ecosystem. Thinking about all five of each one of our values and how they align directly with our commitment with the good Food Purchasing<\/a> policy and our commitment to our students, our community and the environment. So in spring of 2016, the board of education passed a resolution to adopt the good foods purchasing policy, making us only the School District<\/a> in the nation to adopt the policy. Local economies, valued workforce, health and wellbeing of the students align directly with the efforts that student nutrition is hoping to align with the way that Student Nutrition Services<\/a> operates daily. Finding a policy not only formalizes the commitment to the kids, to the community and the environment, but it provides access to partnerships nationwide. In addition it holds us accountable for our actions to make sure were meeting the goals were setting and the standards were saturday setting setting four ourselves. We spend 12 million annually, making us the largest restaurant in San Francisco<\/a>. This presents a huge opportunity for impact, internally and externally throughout San Francisco<\/a> and beyond. So just to give you a sense of what that looks like. We operate we serve almost 7 million meals annually, 33,000 meals per day. This looks like 85 of the meals come that are prepared offsite by a different vendor and brought in and the other 15 on made onsite. What that means is that is four different contracts and food coming from a lot of different sources. But it also presents four different opportunities to ensure were working with the vendors to provide high quality food at a price we can afford. What this means, were working on the process for the preferred meals and also for the groceries and were working on how do we integrate in language around good food and Higher Quality<\/a> standards in such a way that encourages and requests that our proposers integrate and demonstrate a commitment to being willing to meet Higher Standards<\/a> than they were . And its not meaning theyre asking to theyre doing it now, but theyre willing to work with us to do it and get us at the price levels they can promise us. We also are in the process of doing the baseline analysis. Were in the finalizing stages of this. And weve been doing it thanks to the center for good Food Purchasing<\/a>. It is a long process. It has taken a long time. We have food coming from a lot of sources. It takes a long time to collect and analyze. And then were working with them, a lot of the baselines are based on third party verification, so were working on how to interpret that. But what it really means its allowing us to dive deep and see where is our food coming from and where are the easy opportunities we have potential for big impact and change . So, we are kind of in this busy beginning phase, integrating into the proposals. Were also working with the baseline. But so far, weve already had a lot of impressive impact. The first one the partnerships. Amazing partnership with the good Food Purchasing<\/a>, theyve been a valuable resource, not just the help theyve provided, but connecting us to other organizations nationwide. Were learning that were able to leverage as a large School District<\/a> to leverage our power to encourage our vendors to make changes and provide commitments to us. And that we see this as an opportunity for kind of a start of a movement. Were the second one and that is the opportunity for change. And that the more people that join on, the more people that will be aware of it and the more companies will start to make the commitment. Thank you very much. Supervisor ronen thank you. Any questions . None. Ok. Great. So thank you. Next id like to introduce womens policy director at the department of status of women who will be presenting on the Human Trafficking<\/a> task force and exploring good food policy. Thank you for calling this hearing. I wanted to connect the dot and show how it fits in other initiatives in the city and to combat Human Trafficking<\/a>. The Department Staffs<\/a> to improve the response to Human Trafficking<\/a>. We have two dozen departments and organizations that participate in the efforts. About a year ago, we identified one of the ways we could better address Human Trafficking<\/a> and labor trafficking, was to look at our purchasing power and how we as San Francisco<\/a> could be looking at trafficking that was happening in the supply chain of goods and services. When we look at the industries identified in the United States<\/a> as being complicit in Human Trafficking<\/a>, the food is right up there. Fishing, both overseas, there has been a lot of coverage and publicized case where fishermen were here in the bay trafficking and poultry processing. So we realize that San Francisco<\/a> purchases food in its jails and hospitals and leveraging our purchasing power to address Human Trafficking<\/a> in the Food Supply Chain<\/a> would be an Excellent Way<\/a> to try and make sure that our dollars are not somehow complicit in Human Trafficking<\/a>. So this ties in with the good Food Purchasing<\/a> policy and their valued workforce component of the project. So were really supportive of the initiative and really hope that San Francisco<\/a> can put its money where its mouth is in terms of making our dollars support our values. I want to thank a lot of the members from the mayor task force to provide Public Comment<\/a>. I want to thank you and take any questions. Supervisor ronen any questions . None. Thank you very much. Next, id like to introduce chief operating officer for zuckerberg San Francisco<\/a> general hospital, the department of Public Health<\/a>, to discuss the work theyre doing around healthy and Sustainable Food<\/a> and how the good Food Purchasing<\/a> might be part of that work. Good morning, service, im the chief operating officer of San Francisco<\/a> general and ill be giving an overview of how Public Health<\/a> goes across the organization. As you know, we have two hospitals. All together, we serve 6,000 meals a day and 2 million meals a year. Food is 6. 5 million and supplies and materials 8. 8 million. We partner with a Group Purchasing<\/a> organization used for hospital items and get the best price to be stewards of the city. So i want to go over accomplishments weve achieved in the past year. We believe in providing patients and community with healthy and Sustainable Food<\/a> options. In the past few years, weve served locally grown and seasonal produce and hope to move in a direction in laguna, all local produce is served to patients. The calf sorry, if you could hold on. Is there a problem with supervisor ronen sorry about that, here we go. Thanks. Would you like me to start over . Supervisor ronen no, no, no. Please continue. Overall our cafeterias have reduced sodium, frying options. Our meals offer more fresh fruits and vegetables and baked rather than fried foods. Some challenges, currently, healthy our hospital is allowed to get better pricing due to the pricing power. The cost is still high for organic and antibioticfree items. There are limited options for products to choose from through the gpo, including meats that are antibioticfree. There is not enough demand at the patient level for foods and there is not enough demand from viv ant. Im going to introduce hello, thank you for having us. To pick up where he left off. Some of the next steps weve been looking at, laguna honda, are increasing healthy food options. Developing standards around purchasing more sustainable local organic whole foods. Weve been evaluating a couple of different vendors for cagefree eggs and looking at aeb use in animals. Weve been looking at reducing the use of canned goods and frozen vegetables for fresh. Enhancing our waste program. Limiting gpos in the foods we serve. And exploring options for organic milk and dairy. Then specific to good Food Purchasing<\/a>, we have been working with them on providing information for our baseline report. It is challenging sometimes with u. S. Foods identifying where the source of the food actually comes from. There are criteria that they disturbed earlier closely aaligns with our vision. Some of the benefits we see in adopting the good Food Purchasing<\/a> program would be that help with the baseline report and understanding what were currently doing. Best practices in moving forward. And as mentioned, some of those connections to other organizations working on the same initiatives. Some of the challenges weve had in terms of obtaining that data from u. S. Foods, where the food is sourced, the cost and availability of some of the products, some of the more sustainable organic products would have a cost for our department. And then just the contract and vendor process in terms of the city process and working through that to maybe open up to alternate vendors or having other contracts that would allow us to purchase those products. Thats all. Thank you. Supervisor rone supervisor ronen thank you very much. Supervisor fewer i would like to introduce paul from the Sheriffs Department<\/a>, how good Food Purchasing<\/a> might be part of their work. Good morning, supervisors, thank you for having us here today to talk about this great program. I handed out a few information pieces there and im not sure if i can put that on there. Ill be brief. I wanted to give you overview of the food service in the jail system. We wefsh 14 both to the incarcerated and Staff Members<\/a> throughout the 24hour period. Air mark is our current provider. We have one in the hall of justice and the other is out at county jail 5. San bruno. We produce two hot meals and one cold meal. There are numerous diet plans throughout the system. To include such plans as kosher, vegan. A variety of options for people to have. Provided meals for them. We also have a contracted dietician who provides support every six months to terms of our practices. And what was really great about hearing about good Food Purchasing<\/a> program and being able to connect with them, is the fact that we had our rsp process coming up for the Food Service Provider<\/a> and as a result of the collaboration and meetings with them that started may of last year, we were able to incorporate the language in the rsp that is going on as we speak. So by the end of this cycle, starting in july of 2018, we should have in place a program where we hold people to what is called the level 1 star level standard of good Food Purchasing<\/a>. And in our rsp language we hold them to making sure they complete a Baseline Assessment<\/a> within the first 12 months of the contracted period to meet the goals. It is also fortunate because it matches the values of the department. We have a keen interest in making sure people are well fed in our system in order to make sure theyre healthy and food is of interest to everybody, especially when you dont have the ability to go out to a different restaurant or have a choice in what meals you actually eat. We have an interest in making sure we provide the best meals possible. Do you have any questions . I do. Supervisor fewer it seems as though the Sheriffs Department<\/a> has adopted it . Yes. Oh good. With with the help of people in the room, we were able to get the ball started last year for the rfp process this year. We were fortunate. Supervisor fewer any questions . Supervisor ronen im wonder federal governme if across the departments, you work on purchasing policies. I know that information is hard to get. Rather than duplicating that work, if youre communicating with each other to figure out i mean this question is for any of you to answer, but it seems like it would make a lot of sense. I am aware at the Department Head<\/a> level because we have many collaborations with the department of Public Health<\/a>. I know that they have spoken to the sheriff about the fact were engaged in the program right now and she was interested in the progresses we had made through the Department Head<\/a>s. Thank you. Supervisor ronen thank you. Supervisor fewer, if youre thinking of putting structure in place. Supervisor fewer right, not duplicating. Supervisor ronen lets open up for Public Comment<\/a>. Each speaker will have two minutes. I have speaker cards here that ill call out. Doug black, sonya, ruth robinson, nelson berry iii, mayor steiner, marcy coburn, juliet simms and then ill call more names after that. First speaker. Hello, good morning, thank you for featuring this policy. Im mary steiner the president of the United Nations<\/a> association San Francisco<\/a> chapter. Im here also as a member of the San Francisco<\/a> collaborative against Human Trafficking<\/a> and a member of the Mayors Task Force<\/a> against Human Trafficking<\/a>. I was stunned when i attended the recent San Francisco<\/a> collaborative against Human Trafficking<\/a> conference about industrys impacted by Human Trafficking<\/a>, how business and community are fighting back. One of the presentations was from a member of the Teamsters Union<\/a> and they routinely evaluate the conditions of farm workers. They had evaluated taylor farms in salinas and it was a passing grade and then decided to investigate taylor farms in tracy. They discovered pregnant women washing these organic greens, baby greens in chlorine and unprotected. And the motel was doing sex trafficking. The owner was men dosa. So here are the packages of organic baby greens that i see on the grocery shelves, thinking this must be pure and wonderful. We need to take a closer look again about what our food sources are and work with labor as well. Thank you so much. Good morning, seniors, im nelson berry im on the United Nations<\/a> board, im the chair fort global goals of Sustainable Development<\/a>, i want to say how excited i am about this proposal. Its really another example of how San Francisco<\/a> is taking the leadership position in so many areas. And i understand tomorrow the city is going to be talking about divesting 450 million from fossil fuel, so the momentum is moving in a sustainable direction. When i look at the good Food Purchasing<\/a> program values, local economies, environmental sustainability, i can assure that they fall in direct alignment with can i put this here . The 17 global goals for Sustainable Development<\/a> which was created in 2015 just before the paris climate conference. And this program, ive checked all 17 boxes because this program would enhance and be actual programs that support all 17 of the United Nations<\/a> global goals for Sustainable Development<\/a>. I couldnt give you a higher grade on your effort. Down at stanford, the department of engineering has Sustainable Systems<\/a> initiative, they determined that 60 of the global population will live in cities by 2030. They conclude that the successful Sustainable Development<\/a> goals localization will be a critical step toward achieving the goals and the success depends on concerted leadership of cities and City Networks<\/a> to take local action towards the global good. Im almost finished, they had identified the main challenge that we need actionable intelligence at the city level to achieve the Sustainable Development<\/a> goals. So thank you very much for your actions. We totally support it. My name is sonya, im the bay area director for the Sustainability Initiative<\/a> called green monday. We educate students on the impact of agriculture. I fully support the good Food Purchasing<\/a> policy. Our School Program<\/a> is in dire need of an overhaul. Childhood obesity is at an alltime high. Many students i meet are eating pizza, hamburger and Fried Chicken<\/a> in schools and these foods manifest themselves in reduced energy, attention deficit, obesity rates and more. I was overweight for most of my life up until the last four years. During the school years, the only vegetables i was accustomed to was the to mate sauce on my piece and salad drenched in ranch. Like myself, there are many students now whose only options are School Lunches<\/a> and they deserve lunches that are better for their health. I wonder what my Childhood Health<\/a> would have looked like if it was implemented during my time as a student. For younger generations to thrive, they need for fruits, vegetables, and more plants reducing meat. The School District<\/a> is reaping the economic and Health Benefits<\/a> of a 30 meat reduction initiative. A new case study found that the district saved 42 million gallons of water annually and saved 42,000 in cost savings over twoyear period. Money that was used for plant been based foods. Thank you so much. Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. Good morning. My name is lauren. Im a coordinator of the San Francisco<\/a> urban agriculture lands. Im here on behalf of the alliance today to support the good Food Purchasing<\/a> program in San Francisco<\/a>. This program is progressive in its equal weighting of the five values and those are all values that the urban Agricultural Alliance<\/a> strives for in the work we do. Sourcing food closer to where it is good for climate change. Focussing on vegetables is crucial for Public Health<\/a>. Valuing food chain workers, all workers in the food chain, is crucial for the states economy. These are some of the benefits we get from the good Food Purchasing<\/a> program. As was mentioned, adoption of this program would have benefits beyond just the food that is actually being purchased by the city. Because it will help motivate suppliers that will food will be bought by other purchasers. So on behalf of the sfuaa i encourage you move forward on adopting the program. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Good morning. Im marcy, the executive director of the center or urban education about sustainable agriculture. Were celebrating the 25th year of running the Farmers Market<\/a> and in the last three years, expanded to oakland and were returning a Farmers Market<\/a> and run School Program<\/a>s and Education Programs<\/a> in the School District<\/a>. Its not going to come as a surprise we support the policy and purchasing program. What we appreciate about the program is that its more holistic than other certifications programs and that seem to be more single issue. And it has standards for sustainability but also labor and humane treatment of animals in the local economy. We support it for those reasons. Focus on nutrition. Were also in oakland working with the oakland Unified School District<\/a> and we supported this program and found that the School District<\/a> has been able to improve the procurement and found ways to save money in the process. We feel that we should leverage the public dollars for more Sustainable Fare<\/a> and the good Food Purchasing<\/a> program will help San Francisco<\/a> to do that and i urge the city to embrace its framework. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker. Good morning, chair ronen, supervisors, im here on behalf of the Teamsters Union<\/a> to express strong support. Doug black asked me to thank supervisor fewer and note with pride it was the teamsters who brought this policy to her at the school board. The teamsters represent 75,000 workers in californias food change. They pick, process, and distribute food into Public Institutions<\/a> and private businesses. As such, the teamsters strongly support the good Food Purchasing<\/a> program. There is a long history of exploitation in californias food chain, especially toward immigrant workers. But there is also a long history of workers and unions coming together to address the injustices. This policy will make sure we use dollars to employ companies that treat workers humanely. 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