Hundreds protest S.F. budget cuts, packing City Hall chambers

Hundreds of protestors gathered at San Francisco City Hall today to oppose Mayor Daniel Lurie's proposed budget cuts, which threaten $200 million in nonprofit funding over two years. The budget maintains funding for law enforcement while slashing essential services like food banks and housing programs. Mayor Lurie faces a June 30 deadline to finalize the budget and address an $800 million deficit. Protesters, including nonprofit representatives, expressed that they are not asking for charity but for equitable distribution of city resources. Nonprofits like Project Homeless Connect could lose up to 93 percent of their funding, risking their ability to provide critical services.

Organizers are racing against the clock to influence the mayor's decision, with the Board of Supervisors scheduled to meet this week. Jose Luis Pavon, a care manager at HOMEY, stated, “We’re asking for our fair share of the budget. ” The protests reflect a broader concern over the concentration of budget authority in the mayor's office, which controls approximately 15 percent of the city’s total budget.