Small Business Assistance

by Supervisor Carmen Chu

Last month, I partnered with city departments and other district supervisors to announce efforts to assist businesses in San Francisco impacted by Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuits.

Often, the expenses of the litigation plus potential repairs mean the difference between staying in business and closing. Many businesses may not have been aware of the federal requirements or did not have the financial ability to fix the problems.

After working with the SF Office of Small Business, Mayor's Office on Disabilities, treasurer and tax collector's offices and the SF Department of Building Inspection, our office spearheaded an effort to educate businesses about these important issues and to partner with organizations to make loans available. For more information about the federal requirements and on recently-enacted state laws, please visit the website at http://sfgsa.org/ index.aspx?page=4207.

The City is also partnering with Opportunity Fund, one of the Bay Area's largest micro-lenders, to provide loans for small businesses that need assistance financing construction costs for ADA improvements. Opportunity Fund has pledged $1 million to provide small businesses with capital loans ranging from $1,000 to $50,000.

If you would like more information regarding ADA requirements or the loan program, please contact the Office of Small Business at (415) 554-6134.

City Budget

Recently, I was appointed to serve as chair of the Budget and Finance Committee at the SF Board of Supervisors. Over the next six months, I will be working with city departments, community members and organizations, and the Mayor's Budget Office to develop a balanced budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

The City is currently projecting a deficit of $380 million for the next year. This projection may change depending on new information, like state budget impacts or the state of the economy.

The Board of Supervisors Budget Committee will deliberate on the city's budget in May and June, with a formal public comment session to be held in June. We will be providing more information about the budget process in the coming months. Please feel free to contact our office with your feedback or questions at (415) 554-7460 or send and e-mail to chustaff@sfgov.org.

GGNRA Dog Management Plan

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), a federal agency, recently released its Dog Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The plan's recommendations would have significant impacts on the use of Ocean Beach, Fort Funston, Lands End, Sutro Heights, Baker Beach, Fort Point, Fort Mason and Crissy Field. The plan is available at all San Francisco public libraries and can also be accessed online at http://parkplanning.gov/goga.

How to comment:

á Online: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/dogplan;

á By mail: Frank Dean, General Superintendent, GGNRA Fort Mason, Building 201 San Francisco, CA 94123. Public Meetings:

á March 2, 4 - 8 p.m., Tamalpais High School, Marin County;

á March 5, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., San Francisco State University, Seven Hills Conference Center;

á March 7, 4 - 8 p.m., Fort Mason, Bldg. A, San Francisco;

á March 9, 4 - 8 p.m., Cabrillo School, Pacifica.

Comments will be considered during development of the final plan, which is expected to be completed by late spring or early summer, 2012.

When making your comments, please refer to the specific area of the plan you would like to see changed, and your ideas for alternatives.

If you have any further questions about the Dog Management Plan/Draft EIS, please call the GGNRA at (415) 561-4728.

San Francisco Supervisor Carmen Chu represents District 4.