Budget Committee Hears Shift of Homeless Funds to Car BarnPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Jan. 25‚ 2007The Board of Supervisors Budget Committee heard public testimony on January 23rd about the proposed $850,000 sale of City property in the Excelsior – and its proposed exemption from the Surplus Property Ordinance. Under current law, surplus property owned by the City must be developed for affordable housing – or else sold and have the proceeds go towards permanent solutions to homelessness. Sponsored by Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval, the proposed land sale would divert $850,000 from affordable housing funds – and instead use the money to restore the historic Geneva Avenue Car Barn and install trees along Alemany Boulevard. Its practical effect would be to undermine the entire Surplus Property Ordinance – as any Supervisor could then request a similar exemption for property sold in their district. |