The other San Francisco

I have been working to stop some changes to our Local Business Enterprise legislation the last three months. These changes damage a law that has the ability to abolish some of our most stubborn problems in San Francisco. Yet, the president of the board of supervisors is working very hard to pass several changes that weaken this legislation. The next time the public has the chance to speak out against these changes will be 1/25/10 rm 263 San Francisco city hall. The very next day this piece goes to the full board of supervisors 1/26/10

The are two San Francisco's; one San Francisco is an opulent palace filled with opportunity and wealth, a San Francisco that is concerned with gay rights, green building, homeless and our Zoo. A San Francisco of well paid civil servants, vendors and contractors; driving fancy cars and wearing expensive suits.

The other San Francisco is much different city. The other San Francisco is a city of broken promises and shady deals; the residents hood winked and bamboozled. The other San Francisco has no real opportunity. The other San Francisco is a hopeless morass of broken families and discounted lives; citizens cheated out out of their piece of the American Pie. In the Other San Francisco our citizens are living in poverty and substandard housing; scrambling for the crumbs left behind.

The 14b Legislation has the tools to make San Francisco one city with equal opportunity for all its citizens. but instead , you dilute this law, you weaken it to allow the rich to further line their pockets with our tax money.

The amendments you propose are another nail in the coffin for our most vulnerable population. By denying equal access to these city contracts you have required the other San Francisco to stand by and watch as those around us gain valuable experience, training and wealth.

This Legislation is the very definition of institutional racism, It is nearly impossible for Black contractors, minority owned business, and Women contractors to obtain these contracts now. The certain outcome of this law will complete that obvious goal and shut out the Black contractor and woman owned businesses.