Dear Farm Friends:
We’re writing today to ask for your help to pass an important piece of local legislation that will give a big boost to the urban farming and gardening movement in San Francisco.
It has been many decades since City Hall has taken a serious look at the community garden/urban agriculture movement in San Francisco.
Now, Supervisor David Chiu (supported by a SPUR report and the San Francisco Urban Ag Alliance) is presenting legislation to the Board of Supervisors that could have a tremendous impact on community garden resources, governance, oversight, and the ability to create new gardens.
The program proposed in the legislation will coordinate efforts among agencies on specific, measurable targets with timelines; increase accountability by placing responsibility for coordination and reaching the goals with a specific person and agency; and begin a strategic planning process and evaluation that will help make better use of existing city resources that support city gardeners and farmers.
This reform of the City’s community gardens program has been a long time coming. It will need the support of our community to succeed.
To learn more about the legislation, and to find ways that you can take action to support it, please visit: www.sfuaa.org/urban-ag-legislation-2012
The Board of Supervisors’ Land Use and Economic Development Committee will consider the legislation Monday, June 11. This is the first step for the ordinance before it is considered by the whole board.
Please join urban ag enthusiasts at the hearing on June 4, 1:00 pm at City Hall, Room 263.
If you can’t make it, please send a letter of support to these Supervisors who sit on the committee:
Supervisor Malia Cohen: Malia.Cohen@sfgov.org
Supervisor Eric Mar: Eric.L.Mar@sfgov.org
Supervisor Scott Wiener: Scott.Wiener@sfgov.org
Please also cc or send copies of your letter to:
Committee Clerk: Alisa.Miller@sfgov.org
Supervisor David Chiu (who introduced the legislation) : david.chiu@sfgov.org
Mayor Ed Lee: mayoredwinlee@sfgov.org
Your own supervisor (if you or your organization operates within a specific supervisor’s district). Find your supervisor at this website.
The San Francisco Urban Agriculture Alliance: info@sfuaa.org
And please mark your calendars for these upcoming Alemany Farm Community Workdays:
Sunday, June 3
Monday, June 4
Saturday, June 9
Monday, June 11
Sunday, June 17
Monday, June 18