Supervisor Gavin Newsom’s Accomplishments

Reducing homelessness:

• Passed Care Not Cash in order to save lives (Proposition N)
• Directed DHS to triple the amount of storage space available to the homeless (6/29/01)
• Called for a budget analysis and audit of the city's homeless programs (011547)
• Commissioned a report of shelter availability (992099)
• Requested a study of homeless deaths (167-02)
• Provided funding for medical care to indigent people (10315)
• Proposed an initiative to end aggressive panhandling

“Unlike other politicians, Newsom doesn't look for a quick fix — otherwise known as cracking down on the homeless.”
— The San Francisco Chronicle, January 2, 2002

Keeping San Franciscans safe:

• Created a terrorism response team in 1997 (897-97)
• Improved wages for firefighters and police officers (224-99,165-99)
• Commissioned a Legislative Analyst best practices report on robbery and homicide case closures (2002)
• Working to create community courts that offer alternative sentences for small crimes (2084)
• Secured funding for a new, rehabilitation-focused juvenile detention center (42202)
• Convened the Bail Schedule Committee to increase bail rates in San Francisco
• Working to bring CompStat to San Francisco

Rescuing Muni:

• Sponsored Proposition E — Rescue Muni's reform (99-0184)
• Offered free service four years running on New Year's Eve (98-0126)
• Called for $12 per month discount Muni Pass for college students (12/14/99)
• Wrote Muni Customer Service White Paper
• Doubled parking fines along transit corridors (10487)

Reducing Traffic Congestion and Improving Pedestrian Safety:

• Served as President of the Parking and Traffic Commission
• Limited residential parking permits to four per address (88-02)
• Increased the number of red light cameras and pushed for dummy cameras to deter red light running (98-0487)
• Directed DPT and the Transit authority to work collaboratively to secure funding for more pedestrian countdown clocks
• Legislated 100 “all red” intersections to improve pedestrian safety

“Supervisor Newsom is the only member of the board allying himself with the Rescue Muni-SPUR drive.”
  — San Francisco Chronicle, May 20, 1999

Treating Substance Abuse:

• Serves as a National JoinTogether Fellow
• Sponsored legislation establishing methadone medical access waivers to allow private physicians the ability to prescribe methadone (2/3/98)
• Worked to end racial discrimination in crack and cocaine laws (177-98)
• A strong and consistent supporter of treatment on demand
• Sponsored a citywide ban on tobacco advertising (10/10/97)

“[On the Board of Supervisors], Newsom has conducted himself with dignity and civility using the opportunity to focus on solutions to issues such as substance abuse, youth mentoring, and alternative transportation systems.”
— The San Francisco Examiner, October 4, 2002

Improving Housing conditions:

• Required SROs to have fire sprinklers (170-02)
• Passed legislation encouraging courts to incarcerate slumlords in their own buildings (10/21/97)
• Required SROs to issue cash receipts to end “musical rooms,” a practice that denied tenants rent control protections (134-01)
• Increased affordable housing units (011166)
• Supported affordable housing bond measures (1997, 2002)
• Improved safety requirements in rental units (98-0385)
• Worked to provide affordable home ownership opportunities for teachers (1801)

“It (Newsom's legislation) is the city's strongest effort in almost two decades to improve living conditions in the hotels, the last affordable housing option for many poor people before homelessness.”
— The San Francisco Chronicle, July 3, 2001

Improving taxi service in San Francisco:

• Put 300 new cabs on the streets (10/30/98 : Board of Appeals)
• Created the new Taxi Commission to improve service (Proposition D)
• Limited driver lease fees and raised fares to help drivers earn a decent wage (981040, 000391)
• Chaired the Taxi Task Force (6/11/97)

Helping San Francisco's Youth:

• Worked to expand youth mentoring programs (837-97)
• Supported Proposition E to expand the Youth Commission (1462)
• Chaired the X Games
• Started the Skateboard Task Force
• Helped fund Chalkline and CAPS
• Held hearing to preserve wellness centers in our schools

Upgrading our city parks:

• Passed Proposition A to provide $110 million for neighborhood parks improvements (1999)
• Sponsored Proposition C to extend the Open Space Fund for 30 years (1999)
• Took a leadership role in the Playground Campaign
• Created an interdepartmental Park Safety Task Force (462-98)

Advancing women's issues:

• Pushed for 911 digitization so that 911 calls can be used as evidence during arraignment hearings
• Pushed health insurers to cover prescription contraception (990832)
• Worked to increase child care options (991877)
• Helped win funding for breast cancer treatment (470-02)
• Supported efforts to end domestic violence (486-01)
• Provided funding to SAGE and Women Inc.
• Received President's Award from the Commission on the Status of Women for his work to end domestic violence
• Required a “gender analysis” be conducted to determine the effects of proposed budget cuts and additions

Improving customer service and accountability:

• Sponsored Proposition B requiring each city department to develop a customer service plan
• Passed the landmark Performance and Review Ordinance of 1999
• Required key city departments to write performance goals in order to increase accountability (12/21/99)
• Working to develop a 311 call system
• Sponsored Proposition E to create an independent Elections Commission
• Co-sponsored Proposition G to strengthen the Ethics Commission
• Urged the San Francisco Superior Court to create a “One Day One Trial” jury system

“Newsom is often thought of as one of the Board's strongest fiscal watchdogs. For good reason, too.”
— San Francisco Examiner, October 22, 2000

Preserving the character of San Francisco neighborhoods:

• Protected neighborhood theaters
• Opposed new antennas in residential neighborhoods (1/25/00)
• Helped to protect neighborhood landmarks such as the Doggie Diner head, Lotta's fountain, St. Bridget's Church, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the Conservatory of Flowers
• Activated the Graffiti Task Force
• Authored Proposition R to stop the commercialization of Pier 45

Improving public health:

• Passed mold and mildew nuisance legislation (125-01)
• Adopted a dioxin control policy (246-99)
• Commissioned a study on emergency care
• Forged a public/private partnership to create the Sobriety Center
• Helped secure funding for treatment of mental illness (2010)
• Sponsored Family First Pledge calling attention to organ donations
• Helped Hepatitis C prevention efforts (1584)

Helping senior citizens and the disabled:

• Personally paid to add a wheelchair ramp to the Green Room (3/3/97)
• Added 50 new taxis with wheelchair ramps for senior and the disabled
• Passed measures to bar cab companies from imposing surcharges on paratransit script and require cab companies to accept it (301-98)
• Added ADA sensitivity training to taxi driver exams
• Put Braille in all taxicabs
• Passed legislation to stop cuts to senior programs

Fostering San Francisco's diversity:

• Opposed Proposition 209 which sought to end Affirmative Action
• Worked to keep the Fillmore Center in local hands (98-0121)
• Supported efforts to stop racial discrimination and harassment (835-00)
• Supported efforts to increase bilingual services in government (222-01)

“Gavin has demonstrated an attribute extraordinary for politicians — a consistent willingness to take on unpopular issues.”
— The New Fillmore, October 2002

Standing up for the LGBT community:

• Won support for the AIDS Awareness license plate (967-97)
• Advocated for domestic partner benefits and in favor of gay marriage (793-98,1172-99)
• Gave private support to Project Open Hand, Bay Positives, Shanti, Project Inform, and Continuum
• Supported efforts to end discrimination and hate crimes (86-00)
• Funded the Queer Youth Shelter (285-00)
• Supported HIV research and prevention efforts (53-00)

“Supervisor Gavin Newsom has shown leadership on tough city issues including the budget and homelessness.”
 —The San Francisco Chronicle, October 30, 2002

Protecting our environment:

• Co-sponsored a sweeping Clean Air Program that created an infrastructure for alternative fuel cars (258-99)
• Worked to reduce air pollution in Bayview/Hunter's Point (1005-00)
• Banned jet skis along the San Francisco shoreline  (285-98)
• Established the first San Francisco Earth Summit (737-97)
• Co-sponsored the Bicycle Transit Enhancement Plan (343-98)
• Passed legislation calling for cleaner, alternative fuel ferry boats (98-1003)
• Banned the use of MTBE fuels in city vehicles (214-01)
• Pushed for natural gas taxis (88-99)
• Pushed Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Schweppes to use recycled plastics (1085-99, 1125-99)
• Passed a resolution urging the FDA, EPA and USDA to regulate and label genetically engineered foods (1070-00)
• Serves on the Water Transit Authority
• Passed a resolution aimed at eliminating the contaminant dioxin (246-99)

Creating jobs and boosting wages:

• Helped small businesses by passing the Al Fresco dining measure allowing restaurants to serve beer and wine at outdoor tables
• Chaired the Labor Committee
• Helped low income San Franciscans benefit from the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and supported creating a local EITC
• Supported card checks for hotel restaurants with more than fifty employees
• Opposed Proposition 226 which sought to limit labor union lobbying
• Held numerous hearings on PCO abuses and patient-to-nurse abuse at San Francisco General Hospital

“Newsom understands firsthand that business isn't a bad word and that The City's tax base needs to be broadened.”
—The San Francisco Examiner, October 4, 2002