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===Police funding===
===Police funding===


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Hillary Ronen said in 2020 that she believed in defunding police, writing "I want to make it clear that I believe strongly in defunding the police and reducing the number of officers on our force". In 2020, Mayor London Breed redirected $120 million from law enforcement to fund other city initiatives. In 2023, at a Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting, Ronen made a plea to add more officers to the Mission District, which she represents. "I've been begging this department to give the Mission what it deserves in terms of police presence all year long," Ronen said. "And I have been told time and time and time and time again there are no officers that we can send to Mission."<ref>{{cite news|author1=Alec Schemmel|title=San Francisco official who pushed to defund police pleads for more officers in her district
Hillary Ronen said in 2020 that she believed in defunding police, writing "I want to make it clear that I believe strongly in defunding the police and reducing the number of officers on our force". In 2020, Mayor London Breed redirected $120 million from law enforcement to fund other city initiatives. In 2023, at a Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting, Ronen made a plea to add more officers to the Mission District, which she represents. "I've been begging this department to give the Mission what it deserves in terms of police presence all year long," Ronen said. "And I have been told time and time and time and time again there are no officers that we can send to Mission."<ref>{{cite news|author1=Alec Schemmel|title=San Francisco official who pushed to defund police pleads for more officers in her district

Revision as of 00:44, 24 June 2023

Hillary Ronen
Member of the
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
from District 9
Assumed office
January 9, 2017
Mayor
Preceded byDavid Campos
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)San Francisco, California
EducationUniversity of California, San Diego (BA)
University of California, Berkeley (JD)
WebsiteBoard of Supervisors
District 9 website

Hillary Ronen is an American politician and attorney serving as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from District 9, which includes the neighborhoods of Mission District, Bernal Heights, and Portola.[1]

She is the chair of the Homelessness and Behavioral Health Select Committee,[2] a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee,[3] a member of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority,[4] and commissioner of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.[5] She was the past chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, and former chair of the former Youth, Young Adults, and Families Committee.

Early life and career

Hillary Ronen was born and raised in Southern California in a working-class first-generation immigrant Jewish family.[6] Ronen's father immigrated to the United States from Israel in his twenties. Her mother was a school teacher. Watching the discrimination her father faced in the workplace led her to a career of advancing the rights of workers and their families.[7]

Ronen has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego and her Juris Doctor from University of California, Berkeley. After graduating from law school, she moved to the Mission District, where she joined La Raza Centro Legal. She worked as an immigrant rights attorney for over six years fighting for unpaid back wages for domestic workers and day laborers.[8] In 2013, Ronen helped write and pass the California Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights, which mandates overtime pay.[9]

San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Ronen was a legislative aide and chief of staff to Supervisor David Campos. She succeeded him on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors after winning election in the November 2016 election.[6] Ronen was sworn in on January 9, 2017.[10] Her election created a female majority on the board for the first time in 20 years.[11]

In 2020, Ronen was re-elected to her seat with 99.77% of the vote.[12]

Police funding

Hillary Ronen said in 2020 that she believed in defunding police, writing "I want to make it clear that I believe strongly in defunding the police and reducing the number of officers on our force". In 2020, Mayor London Breed redirected $120 million from law enforcement to fund other city initiatives. In 2023, at a Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting, Ronen made a plea to add more officers to the Mission District, which she represents. "I've been begging this department to give the Mission what it deserves in terms of police presence all year long," Ronen said. "And I have been told time and time and time and time again there are no officers that we can send to Mission."[13]

Mental Health SF

In 2019, Ronen spearheaded Mental Health SF legislation along with Supervisor Matt Haney.[14] Mayor London Breed and the Board of Supervisors reached a compromise agreement on the landmark mental health reform effort. The final legislation passed focuses on creating a universal system of mental health services, substance use treatment, and psychiatric medications to San Franciscans who need help.[15] The five key components of Mental Health SF include, the establishment of a Mental Health Service Center, establishment of an Office of Coordinated Care, the establishment of the 24/7 crisis response street team, the expansion of Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment, and the establishment of the Office of Private Health Insurance Accountability.[14]

In October 2019, Ronen worked with San Francisco City workers to reach a deal to keep the Adult Residential Facility open for people with severe mental illness.[16] In August 2019, the San Francisco Department of Public Health planned on displacing dozens of patients from the Adult Residential Facility, the only City-operated board and care option for people with severe mental illness.[17] Ronen drafted and introduced legislation to ensure that these beds would be used as intended, providing a safe and secure place for people who would otherwise be on the street. In October, Ronen, along with front-line staff, representatives from Local 21 and SEIU 1021, DPH leadership, residents and their families, and the Mayor's office worked together to reach an agreement and pass legislation to ensure the future of the Adult Residential Facility.[18]

Housing

In November 2021, Ronen introduced legislation along with Mayor Breed to turn a former controversial mega-development of 380 mostly luxury housing units 1979 Mission Street that was derided by community members as the "Monster in the Mission" into a 100% affordable housing project. Ronen stated of the parcel transfer, "Being able to save 1979 Mission so it could be built to directly address my district's most urgent need — affordable housing — only happened through the long and hard-fought efforts of community and city working together."[19]

In October 2021, Ronen supported the appeal of a 495-unit apartment complex of mostly market-rate housing units. The Board of Supervisors voted for the appeal in a 8–3 vote, citing displacement and earthquake stability concerns, as San Francisco has had issues of luxury developments like the Millennium Tower sinking and sliding off their foundations.[20] The California Department of Housing and Community Development began an investigation into whether the San Francisco Board of Supervisors acted improperly in its decision to block the housing project.

In July 2021, Ronen introduced legislation to close significant loopholes and gaps in San Francisco Planning Code's requirements for affordable housing.[21] It amends San Francisco's Inclusionary Housing Program to ensure developers fulfill their obligations in creating, marketing, and filling affordable units when building market-rate developments.

In 2021, when San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera sued a real estate developer for illegally building 29 apartments in a building lot designated for 10 apartments and violated multiple building codes, fire safety and affordable housing requirements and state housing laws, Ronen celebrated the decision and said that she had complained about the building for years.[22] The investigation resulted in the resignation of Department of Building Inspection Senior Building Inspector Bernard Curran and the FBI charging Curran with building permit fraud and corruption.

In March 2020, just after Shelter-in-Place began, Ronen introduced a resolution calling on Governor Gavin Newsom, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and President Donald Trump to impose a moratorium on residential and commercial rent and mortgages.[23]

In 2019, Ronen introduced legislation to close loopholes around tenant buyout laws that have historically become a form of tenant abuse, intimidation, and de facto eviction.[24]

In January 2019, Ronen passed legislation to close a loophole that landlords have used to force out long-term tenants from single-family homes. Despite these tenants being covered by eviction protections, they were exempt from rent control, and landlords had used rent increases as a bad faith tactic to circumvent tenant protections. Ronen's legislation made that practice unlawful and a form of tenant harassment.

In 2019, she co-sponsored a resolution sponsored by Supervisor Mar opposing California Senate Bill 50 which would have mandated denser housing but significantly restricted San Francisco's local participation in the process, and limited the ability to protect vulnerable communities from displacement and gentrification.[25]

In 2018, Ronen introduced an ordinance amending the Administrative Code to require San Francisco to prioritize the processing of 100% affordable housing projects as each department's or office's highest priority.[26] Since then, the Mission District has been able to acquire more 100% affordable housing sites that will bring more than 1,000 affordable housing units to the Mission neighborhood.

In May 2017, Ronen introduced legislation to extend rental subsidies for low income residents who are victims of fire if they are still not able to return home after two years.[27]

In April 2017, Ronen introduced legislation to fix a loophole that affirmed children were eligible tenants in the context of Ellis Act relocation assistance.[28]

Small businesses

In June 2021, Ronen authored First Year Free legislation, to create a one-year pilot to waive first-year permit, license, and business registration fees for new, small, storefront businesses. First Year Free had the enthusiastic support of the SF Small Business Commission.[29] The legislation removes significant financial barriers that city fees create for prospective small business owners. It was so successful, the legislation was extended through June 2023.[30]

On March 8, 2022, Supervisor Ronen authored the Street Vendor Regulation legislation to make it illegal to sell stolen goods by creating a permitting system and confiscating any street vendor items that do not have proof of ownership.[31] The legislation supports working with Street Vendors to support their businesses to grow into brick and mortar sites, and clear out the fencing operations that have taken over the streets of the Mission.

Education and youth issues

Ronen has been a fierce advocate for students and families of public education and was the chair of the Youth, Young Adults and Families Committee that was formed in 2021 as a result of needs for students during the pandemic, and dissolved in 2023 when she became chair of the Homelessness and Behavioral Health Committee where issues related to youth and families will be directed.

In 2022 she authored a landmark Charter Amendment "Student Success Fund" which provides $60 million per year in city funds to support a community schools model with the goal of establishing programming in eligible schools to support student academic achievement and social emotional wellness.[32] Funding for the Student Success Fund, while drawn from the San Francisco General Fund, redirects monies from excess Educational Revenue Augmentation Funds that San Francisco receives from the State of California that are intended to fund educational purposes. The Charter Amendment passed the Board of Supervisors with unanimous support, and went onto the 2022 November Ballot as Proposition G. The ballot measure passed with 77.78% of the vote.[33]

Personal life

Ronen is married to attorney Francisco Ugarte. They live in the Bernal Heights neighborhood with their daughter.[34]

References

  1. ^ "District 9 | Board of Supervisors". sfbos.org.
  2. ^ "San Francisco Homelessness and Behavioral Health Select Committee". sfbos.org.
  3. ^ "San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee". sfbos.org.
  4. ^ "San Francisco County Transportation Authority". mtc.ca.gov.
  5. ^ "San Francisco County Transportation Authority". mtc.ca.gov.
  6. ^ a b "Candidates Discuss Family Backgrounds". Mission Local. September 2, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  7. ^ "S3E19, Part 1: Hillary Ronen on Her Formative Years". storiedsf.libsyn.com.
  8. ^ "Supervisor Hillary Ronen Overview". sfbos.org.
  9. ^ Carolyn Said (October 25, 2021). "S.F. could be first to mandate paid sick leave for house cleaners, nannies". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  10. ^ V. Alexandra de F. Szoenyi (January 29, 2017). "New District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen Talks Affordable Housing, Transit, More". Hoodline. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  11. ^ Heather Knight (January 6, 2017). "Women's rise to power in SF a glimmer of hope in politics". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  12. ^ "November 3, 2020 Election Results - Summary". sfelections.sfgov.org.
  13. ^ Alec Schemmel. "San Francisco official who pushed to defund police pleads for more officers in her district". Fox News. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Mental Health SF Legislation Approved Unanimously by Board of Supervisors". sfmayor.org.
  15. ^ Ted Goldberg; April Dembosky (May 28, 2019). "Supervisors Propose Universal Mental Health Care in San Francisco". KQED. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  16. ^ "Mayor Breed, Supervisors Ronen, Haney, and Mandelman Announce Plan for Adult Residential Facility". sfmayor.org.
  17. ^ Laura Waxmann (August 22, 2019). "City cuts to long-term mental health beds prompt protest". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  18. ^ Joe Eskenazi (October 14, 2019). "Compromise reached to save Adult Residential Facility, which mayor and Health Department had moved to gut". Mission Local. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  19. ^ J.K. Dinnen (November 1, 2021). "After years of contentious housing battles, S.F. poised to take ownership of 'Monster in the Mission' property". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  20. ^ Alex Lash (November 9, 2021). "How to Unpack One Supervisor's Rejection of the Project to Turn an SF Parking Lot Into 500 Homes". The Frisc. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  21. ^ "Supe Calls For Legislation To Close Planning Code Loopholes Impacting Affordable Housing Efforts". SF Gate. July 28, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  22. ^ J.K. Dinnen (July 16, 2021). "S.F. developer fined $1.2 million for cramming too many apartments into complex". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  23. ^ Hillary Ronen; Matt Haney (March 20, 2020). "A rent and mortgage moratorium can stop the next Great Depression". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  24. ^ Laura Waxmann (December 14, 2019). "Ronen wants to strengthen tenant protections in buyout law". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  25. ^ Laura Waxmann (March 31, 2019). "Wiener's housing density legislation faces hometown opposition". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  26. ^ "File # 180547". sfgov.legistar.com/.
  27. ^ Laura Wenus (May 2, 2017). "As time runs out for fire victims, supervisor proposes extended relief". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  28. ^ Heather Knight (April 11, 2017). "Ronen pushes to count SF kids as tenants for relocation payments". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  29. ^ "First Year Free". sftreasurer.org.
  30. ^ "File # 220930". sfgov.legistar.com.
  31. ^ "File # 211292". sfgov.legistar.com.
  32. ^ Lisa Moreno (July 26, 2022). "San Francisco Schools Could Get Up to $60 Million Under Measure Headed to Fall Ballot". San Francisco Standard. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  33. ^ "November 8, 2022 Election Results - Summary". sfelections.sfgov.org.
  34. ^ Heather Knight (October 24, 2016). "SF District 9 supervisor candidates pledge to listen to residents". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
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